Budget Implementation Act, 2008  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise this afternoon to join the debate on Bill C-50. First, I would like to state the position of the Bloc Québécois on this budget, which does not meet the conditions the Bloc set for giving its approval. You may have heard our position several times, but I want to state it for the people who are listening to us and watching us on television and who may not have heard it.

Budget Implementation Act, 2008  Mr. Speaker, I have a question for my colleague. The budget includes, in my opinion, a slightly insidious measure, which would give the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration discretionary power. That is dangerous. That could lead to abuse because she could choose which immigrants are admitted into Canada and when.

Budget Implementation Act, 2008  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague for his excellent speech and for the light he has shed on the measures that will be adopted and that are currently being debated. Could he explain once again to this House how important it is for older workers to have access to a real assistance program after they have tried retraining measures?

Fire Departments  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all my Bloc Québécois colleagues, I am pleased to congratulate the 24 firefighters from Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Beauharnois, Sainte-Martine, Saint-Étienne-de-Beauharnois and Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague who were decorated with medals or bars for distinguished service.

Competition Act  Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure today to speak to Bill C-454, which was introduced by the Bloc Québécois member for Montcalm. First, I would like to congratulate my colleague on his excellent work and on this initiative to bring this important issue back to the House of Commons.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition signed by more than 500 people in my riding who want the government to know that in the context of globalization, where WTO negotiations are threatening our food sovereignty and our agriculture, it is of the utmost importance that our voices be heard.

Nuclear Energy  Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives fired Linda Keen for her supposed lack of judgment in the Chalk River affair. We have learned that, after her departure, the new president reintroduced the pre-assessment of new Candu reactors, which Ms. Keen had set aside due to a lack of financial and human resources required to respect the rigorous safety standards.

Nuclear Energy  Mr. Speaker, the minister does not seem to have understood the question. Health and safety must be the priorities of the commission headed by Ms. Keen. Reintroducing the pre-assessment of Candu reactors, highly desired by the Conservatives, casts doubt on respect for nuclear safety standards.

Committees of the House  Mr. Speaker, I know the parliamentary secretary well. We discussed this issue together on a few occasions. I know her to be very caring. She is a francophone, and she lives in a francophone region. I have a hard time understanding, and I wonder if she could provide an explanation.

Manufacturing Industry  Mr. Speaker, the Bloc understands very well the manufacturing industry, as its workers will show in the next election. For the past year, the Bloc Québécois has been urging the government to take serious action to support the manufacturing industry and its workers. At a time when Canada's net exports are plummeting due to the economic slowdown in the United States, does the government not understand that the manufacturing industry needs much more than $1 billion over three years in order to go through this crisis?

Manufacturing Industry  Mr. Speaker, Quebec's statistics institute confirmed yesterday that the manufacturing industry has not been the one with the largest number of jobs since 2005. In concrete terms, this means that, in Quebec, 79,000 jobs have been lost in that industry just in the years since the Conservatives took office.

Livestock Industry  Mr. Speaker, in the course of the debate, we have often heard that the opening of new markets in other countries, such as the Philippines or Korea, could be a solution to support or encourage producers. I find Koreans quite lucky to be able to eat Canadian beef, because at the IGA in Ormstown, I cannot buy any.

Livestock Industry  Mr. Speaker, I have no intention of giving the member opposite a history lesson, but this allows me to respond to his question and tell him that not only are pork and beef producers in the middle of a crisis, but all the problems currently related to the slaughter of steers in Quebec only add to the difficulties facing beef producers.

Livestock Industry  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. The answer is rather simple. I think the Conservative government must take its responsibilities and listen to the pork and beef producers who have submitted practical, concrete and achievable solutions. It must also listen to the opposition members who also proposed concrete, achievable solutions.

Livestock Industry  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak in this emergency debate. Frankly, if my colleagues in the House will permit me, I could perhaps continue in a better climate of silence, in a respectful climate.