Democratic Reform  Mr. Speaker, the government's bill created exceptions to the principle of the neutrality of the state. By ordering election officials to accommodate voters, the Conservatives are emulating the SAAQ, which accommodates clients who, for religious reasons, want to choose the gender of the person giving them their test.

Democratic Reform  Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois is opposed to veiled voting. That is why it introduced a bill to ensure that all voters identify themselves. During the debate on the government's bill, the Liberals changed their position and stopped insisting that all voters be equal under the law.

Post-secondary Education  Mr. Speaker, federal assistance to students in the rest of Canada has not improved access to post-secondary education nor curbed debt. For its part, Quebec decided to put in place a student aid system based on need. The federal government insists on imposing its new grant program on Quebec, which is asking for the right to opt out with full compensation and no strings attached.

Canada-U.S. Relations  Mr. Speaker, the newspaper Les Affaires has revealed that, under the procurement agreement the federal government is negotiating with the United States, Quebec's crown corporations and municipalities will be forced to open up their purchasing to American suppliers. Free trade within the European Union is very well-established, and yet its member countries have maintained some exceptions concerning certain sectors.

Canada-U.S. Relations  Mr. Speaker, the minister knows the European Union has certain exclusions, particularly for areas in difficulty, small and medium-sized businesses, security and defence, infrastructure and transportation equipment. Given that such exclusions are possible, does the minister plan to demand them in order to avoid jeopardizing the Bombardier plant in La Pocatière, for example, just when the Montreal subway system is about to purchase new trains?

Intergovernmental Relations  Mr. Speaker, the minister is misleading the House. Quebec was paid for services rendered. This was not compensation. It is not just over harmonization of the GST that the Government of Quebec is being treated unfairly by the federal government. In fact, the Conservative government is depriving Quebec of $8 billion, including $800 million for post-secondary education and the billions of dollars in equalization payments.

Taxe Harmonization  Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is acting in bad faith in the matter of the harmonization of the GST and Quebec's sales tax. Although his own minister privately acknowledges that the GST and the QST are harmonized, the Prime Minister is now demanding that Ottawa collect the Quebec tax.

Richard Wackid  Mr. Speaker, it was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Richard Wackid on Monday, following a courageous struggle with ALS. After 25 years on the Hill serving nine Liberal whips, there is no doubt that Richard Wackid was a fixture in this Parliament. His intimate knowledge of the procedural rules of the House of Commons and his obvious passion for politics made him a master parliamentary strategist.

Employment Insurance Act  Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to the answers the parliamentary secretary gave to the member for Manicouagan, and I was completely dumbfounded. What I understood is that he was saying that a worker who is unfortunate enough to be a seasonal worker, to work in the tourism or forestry industry, will have access to regular EI benefits, but not to the extended benefit period.

Employment Insurance Act  Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate my colleague for his excellent speech and for his clarity. I would like to ask him a specific question. This morning, I saw the headlines in the newspapers saying that the Liberals wanted to speed up the adoption of the bill in order to annoy the NDP.

Employment Insurance Act  Mr. Speaker, I want to reassure the parliamentary secretary. The people I represent are asking me today to ask questions of the government. Considering what is happening in my riding with the numerous permanent or recurring closures of manufacturing companies, I am unable to say at this time if this measure will help my constituents.

Employment Insurance Act  Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if this interpretation is correct, but I never said I disputed the figures, that is, 190,000 unemployed workers at a cost of $938 million. I said there were some questions about where those figures came from. Whoever provides figures like that must be able to justify them.

Employment Insurance Act  Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform you that I will be sharing my time with the likeable and talented member for Sherbrooke. I am pleased to take part in this debate on Bill C-50, because my riding has been hit hard, over the last six years, by the permanent or recurring closure of various manufacturing companies.

Forestry Industry  Mr. Speaker, the rescue plan for the forestry industry has not even been announced, and it is already coming under fire. According to Yves Lachapelle, of the Quebec Forest Industry Council, the plan is too limited. It would deal only with the problem of black liquor, and just six paper mills out of 50 in Quebec would have access.

Forestry Industry  Mr. Speaker, paper mills no longer have any cash, and their lines of credit are maxed out. What they need is very short-term financing. Does the government plan on offering loan guarantees to all sectors of the forestry industry and not just to the export sector?