Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. I would remind my friend that 75% of the measures announced in the economic statement directly benefit Canadian taxpayers and that 25% of the measures benefit businesses. Consequently, every Canadian will benefit from what was announced with regard to the lowest personal income tax rate, the reduction in the GST and all the rest.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, as we have said and as the Prime Minister also announced following the throne speech, we are going to continue to develop and introduce programs and measures to help workers in the forestry industry and other sectors across the country. We are continuing to do everything in our power to analyze the situation and come up with practical solutions that will achieve our objectives, which are to help workers, of course, to help the industry go further and to enable Canada to remain the world's largest lumber exporter.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois campaigned in my riding by introducing a bill affecting Quebec and its regions that concerned the entire Canadian and Quebec forestry program. While we campaigned to represent our fellow citizens, they introduced a bill. To date, as far as I know, two bills from this party concerning name changes to ridings have been passed.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege for me to speak today about what the government has done and is continuing to do to support the Canadian forest products sector. The forest products sector is a dynamic contributor to the Canadian economy, generating some $80 billion annually. It also accounts for 3% of gross domestic product.

Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean  Mr. Speaker, among the citizens of Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean there are many workers, athletes and artists who contribute to the renown of our region throughout Quebec, Canada and the world. In the worker category, Chantale Lalancette, from the artisan cheese factory L'Autre Versant d'Hébertville, was named woman farmer of the year by the Fédération des agricultrices du Québec.

Agriculture and Agri-Food  Mr. Speaker, PQ supporters are calling on the Bloc Québécois to fold since they cannot support two separatist parties. Out of a possible 308 seats, the Bloc runs just 75 candidates. The Bloc confines Quebec to a role outside leadership circles, on the sidelines. In 17 years in Ottawa, the Bloc has made no decisions and has accomplished nothing.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, indeed, I am new in this House, but I am not the only one, because other members have also been at one time. As the full time mayor of a municipality that had huge needs, I was able to see the importance of money transfers to help our communities. When, as mayor of a municipality, I received a gasoline excise tax transfer to improve municipal infrastructures—I will only refer to this aspect—I was able to see how important it is to have a cooperating central government that is working with all the provinces.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question. It is nice to hear that, over the past 21 months, we have made progress on this issue, considering that, for 13 years, hardly anything was done with the provinces and municipalities. For years, municipalities in Quebec, including the one I was representing, wanted the fiscal imbalance affecting the provinces and municipalities to be recognized.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, it is an honour for me to take part in this debate on the motion by the Bloc. I want to indicate that I will be sharing my time with the member for Mégantic—L'Érable. A little over a month ago, I stood as a candidate in the byelection for the riding of Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean against the Bloc candidate.

Agriculture  Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government supports our supply management. However, in the past several months, Bloc Québécois members have taken their disinformation and fearmongering campaign on the road in Quebec's countryside. They are trying to make farmers believe that we are not committed to maintaining supply management.

Riding of Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean  Mr. Speaker, in the recent election campaign, my adversaries maintained that I would not represent the entire riding, but that I would only represent one city, because I was that city's mayor. Yesterday, I announced the opening of two riding offices: one in Roberval and the other in Dolbeau-Mistassini.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, I will simply say that politics is for people to allow us to represent them. Let us continue to be close to the public, to those who allow us to represent them. The experience that the hon. member and myself share at the municipal level, along with many others in this place, provides us with a good understanding of people's needs, and also allows us to be close to them.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois has been in the House of Commons for 6,000 days and has asked 4,000 questions. It has introduced 288 bills and promised one in my riding's election campaign. It has had two bills passed concerning name changes for ridings. I was forced to talk about the forestry sector throughout the campaign, which is natural given the region I am from.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, we recognized the existence of the fiscal imbalance and we continue to work to ensure that the Canadian federation works effectively, unlike some who had always refused to acknowledge the existence of that imbalance. This is very important for us. As regards infrastructures, I will not say what should be put forward in the negotiations to limit the federal spending power.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing me to give my maiden speech in the House of Commons. Naturally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made it possible for me to be here: my family, friends, colleagues, organizers and, most of all, the citizens of the riding of Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jeanwho placed their trust in me.