Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, that is fantastic. I thank my colleague for his superb speech. It was interesting because he talked about all kinds of things, except the Bloc Québécois motion we are debating today. We have been debating this motion all morning. I heard my hon. colleagues in the government tell us how proud they are to increase special EI benefits for serious illnesses to 26 weeks.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his speech. I think I understand the arguments of the Liberals opposite. The cancer and MS associations have said that it takes an average of 26 weeks to recover, so the Liberals decided to increase the benefit period to 26 weeks. The Liberals say that there is no point increasing it to 50 weeks if people are back at work after 26 weeks.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate my colleague on her excellent speech. It is no secret that the NDP fought for this bill. Former NDP member Claude Patry said that a vote for the bill was, and I quote, “a vote for workers and their families, for the most vulnerable in our society.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I want to mention that there has also been cancer in my family. My mother had it and campaigned by my father's side while wearing a wig. I want to thank my hon. colleague. She understands the situation because her own family experienced it. I can tell she is very touched, but, from what I heard, I also think she feels torn.

Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement Implementation Act  Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his thoughtful words. Now that we are friends, perhaps he will agree that it might not have been the right time for jokes about that. I am sure he will not make the same mistake again. I am so pleased to have shared that learning experience with the member.

Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement Implementation Act  Madam Speaker, I very much appreciate my colleague's question, and I want him to know he can count on my friendship. The difference is that the Bloc is proactive. We want our ideas to have a real impact. In spite of everything, I believe the Conservatives want to collaborate and make a difference on this issue.

Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement Implementation Act  Madam Speaker, it is not complicated. Steel obtained protections in this agreement that aluminum did not. In fact, 70% of steel must be smelted and poured in North America. Aluminum did not get that clause. Aluminum can therefore come from China via Mexico. Mexico will turn aluminum into parts and eventually flood the U.S. market.

Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement Implementation Act  Madam Speaker, first and foremost, I want to thank the Conservatives for making it possible for me to participate in today's debate. I was not supposed to speak, but they allowed me to, so I thank them for that. There is co-operation in the House, which I think bodes well for the rest of the 43rd Parliament, because it will make it easier to move forward on issues.

Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement Implementation Act  Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his very fine speech. I am pleased to hear him say that the Bloc Québécois is working hard on the aluminum file. The best part is that initially the Liberals were saying that we were the only ones working on the aluminum file. Today, the Conservatives and the NDP are working with us and the Deputy Prime Minister is now open to our proposals.

Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement Implementation Act  Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for showing that parties can work together even though they do not always share the same political vision. We are all capable of fighting for our constituents. I am happy to know him, and I congratulate him on winning his seat. He may agree with me.

Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement Implementation Act  Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his most enthusiastic speech. Our hon. colleague told us that the new NAFTA would result in new job prospects for Canadians and therefore for Quebeckers. There was a protest here in Ottawa. Aluminum workers, municipal officials and economic stakeholders from the region came to tell us, with study in hand, that 60,000 jobs are in jeopardy in Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean and on the north shore.

Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement Implementation Act  Madam Speaker, my hon. colleague and I agree on one thing. The agreement needed to be modernized, because China produced less aluminum than Quebec in 1993 but now produces 15 times more. Unfortunately, the agreement was not modernized with respect to aluminum. How is it that steel was given additional protection while aluminum was not?

Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement Implementation Act  Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for that great speech. I am pleased to see that the Conservatives recognize the importance of protecting aluminum. That makes me very happy, and I thank them for that. All parties need to work together. In fact, we invited the member for Chicoutimi—Le Fjord to join us when we all got going on this in December.

Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement Implementation Act  Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for her speech, which was lovely. I congratulate her on her election and her appointment. I have been trying to get an answer all week, so I will try to ask a very simple question in hopes of getting a very simple answer. Thus far, the Liberals have been telling me that they thought steel and aluminum had the same protections when the agreement was signed.

Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement Implementation Act  Mr. Speaker, yesterday, in response to one of my questions, the Prime Minister said that 70% of aluminum was protected under the new agreement, known as CUSMA. Everyone knows that this is not the case. That statement is incorrect. The 70% refers to parts made from aluminum. This means that parts manufacturers can bring in the world's dirtiest aluminum from other countries at a lower price.