Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, it is important to the Bloc Québécois that the federal government encourage Canadian manufacturing. However, we were disappointed that we did not receive the support from the NDP when we were asking, for example, 60% of economic benefits for Quebec, which has the expertise in the aerospace industry.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak on behalf of the Bloc Québécois during today's supply debate on the manufacturing sector. I will split my time with the hon. member for Richmond—Arthabaska. Today's debate is of particular interest to me, because I represent a riding that has suffered from the crisis in the manufacturing sector.

Nuclear Energy  Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, the Minister of Natural Resources stated that any decision regarding nuclear energy was strictly a provincial responsibility. This is not true. Atomic Energy of Canada comes under the federal government, as do nuclear safety and management of nuclear waste.

Nuclear Energy  Mr. Speaker, a month ago, the Minister of Natural Resources said there would be an open discussion concerning the growing use of nuclear energy to extract the oil from the oil sands. However, the Prime Minister ordered his ministers not to say anything on the matter. Some transparency.

Nuclear Energy  Mr. Speaker, as the minister knows very well, the security, safety and management of waste falls under federal jurisdiction. While these meetings continue behind closed doors, the Minister of Natural Resources candidly admits that he does not yet know where to bury nuclear waste.

Nuclear Liability and Compensation Act  Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the hon. member for his speech. I would like to ask him a question. He has done a lot of travelling and has met with many people, including a number of European parliamentarians. Could he tell me why Germany, for example, has decided to abandon nuclear energy?

Nuclear Liability and Compensation Act  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his comment. In fact, he is correct. Three percent of Quebec’s energy is nuclear and it has only one power plant within its borders, unlike Ontario which has 18 or 22. Certain places have been designated and Quebeckers know very well that the Canadian Shield is one of them.

Nuclear Liability and Compensation Act  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. The law that applies at present is the current act, before Bill C-5 is enacted. Of course, nuclear installation operators are liable for up to $75 million, which would not really be enough. If a disaster occurred, communities would be at a serious disadvantage in terms of compensation, and the consequences would be terrible.

Nuclear Liability and Compensation Act  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his question. Obviously, when we read the bill, this clause is surprising. My colleague and I, on the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, are committed to questioning the government and the witnesses on this clause in particular.

Nuclear Liability and Compensation Act  Mr. Speaker, I thank the parliamentary secretary for his question. It gives me an opportunity to explain that, although the minister is being responsible in introducing this bill, it is not just by chance that he is doing it now. We are seeing the emergence of nuclear energy as an energy issue.

Nuclear Liability and Compensation Act  Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to speak to this important government bill, specifically, Bill C-5, An Act respecting civil liability and compensation for damage in case of a nuclear incident. We recall that this bill was introduced by the Minister of Natural Resources during the previous session of Parliament and had to be introduced in this House again after prorogation.

Nuclear Energy  Mr. Speaker, the parliamentary secretary will have to do his homework. The government is aware that the physical and environmental safety of Quebeckers and Canadians must be guaranteed, before facilitating the construction of new nuclear plants in Canada. This is why obtaining a licence takes so many years.

Nuclear Energy  Mr. Speaker, the Energy Alberta Corporation, which promotes the use of nuclear energy for oil sands extraction, submitted a request for a licence to build new plants. The Prime Minister said, in the Speech from the Throne, that he would provide a single window for major project approvals.

Louise Robert Beaudin and Marie-Josée Cloutier  Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today in this House to acknowledge the remarkable work of a farmer in my riding. Louise Robert Beaudin was named “woman farmer of the year” at the 11th annual Val-Jean farm women's union gala on October 6. Louise Robert Beaudin is the sole proprietor of L.R.B, a large-scale farm in Saint-Jacques-le-Mineur, and she manages the fields, the finances, the land clearing and a number of other jobs.

Resumption of debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, my answer will be short. Quebec proposed that the federal government fund 30% of an older worker assistance program.