Bicycle Industry  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague for his question, but the questions this government has answered on this matter are as follows. Is imposing a surtax on foreign bicycles a good solution for competition in Canada in the long term?

Bicycle Industry  Does a surtax benefit Canadian consumers?

Bicycle Industry  Does the government want all Canadian consumers to pay 30% more for their bicycles?

Bicycle Industry  Does this government believe in the ability of Canadian businesses to be competitive on the international stage?

Textile Industry  Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for the question, which the minister will answer. The Government of Canada is aware of the difficulties facing the textile industry. This is why, in the last budget, we reduced the tax burden for such businesses, cutting their taxes by $20 billion over two years.

Budget Implementation Act, 2006  Mr. Speaker, I simply wish to point out that in my speech I said that the amount of $400 million was allocated to three granting agencies for research and development. The actual figure is $40 million per year.

Budget Implementation Act, 2006  Mr. Speaker, to answer my colleague's first question on the advantages to Quebec in this budget with respect to equalization, the new budget ensures that Quebec will get $185 million more than it did last November, if we look at the state of public finances at the time. If we compare this to the previous budget of the former Liberal government, Quebec will receive $741 million more.

Budget Implementation Act, 2006  Mr. Speaker, our latest budget contains tax cuts of $20 billion over two years. As I said earlier, it is very important for the competitiveness of the Canadian economy. If we make a comparison with the U.S. and the rest of the countries in the world, we realize that Canada is in a very competitive situation where corporate tax rates are concerned.

Budget Implementation Act, 2006  Mr. Speaker, I take the floor today as the member for Beauce and as Minister of Industry to discuss the importance of the budget for my constituents and for all Canadians. I will be sharing my time with the hon. member for Wetaskiwin. My great thanks to him for expressing his point of view.

Softwood Lumber  Mr. Speaker, this government has reached a historic agreement with the Americans. What we are offering workers in the forest industry is more than loan guarantees, it is a guarantee of repayment. It is the guarantee of having free access, without tariffs or quotas, to the American market.

Industry  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question. Jobs in Canada are very important and are one of our priorities. That is why we took the necessary steps in the budget to reduce the tax burden on Canadian families and businesses. This will encourage businesses to create productive jobs.

Research and Development  Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his question. I would point out that the Canadian government has invested $100 million more in research this year. If he had read the budget carefully, my colleague could have seen this very clearly. We are committed to university research, basic research, and research and development in Canada.

Research and Development  Mr. Speaker, in the budget we have committed $40 million for the indirect costs of research program, $20 million for the leaders opportunity fund of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, $17 million per year for Canadian Institutes of Health Research, $17 million for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and $6 million for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Research and Development  Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for the question--

Manufacturing Industry  Mr. Speaker, I believe my hon. colleague from the opposition is mistaken in the premise of his questions. If we asked all the businesspeople in Beauce, in Quebec and in Canada whether a tax cut would help them and their business, I think they would not hesitate to say yes.