Kemano Project  Mr. Speaker, the position of the Government of Canada could not be more clear. We have been consistent with the commitment given by the Prime Minister during the last election campaign which was to participate fully in the B.C. Utilities Commission review which is now under way.

Kemano Project  Speaker, I have just been given a copy of correspondence written to the editor of the Prince George Citizen by my colleague, the minister of revenue, in which he says: Let me repeat that I thought I had made clear to the reporter that the federal government is not considering cancellation of the Kemano completion project. (b) The federal government will co-operate fully with them and make all of its information and technical personnel available to the British Columbia Utilities Commission currently looking into this issue.

The Environment  Speaker, in light of the status report on global warming the Canadian government, and in particular the Ministry of the Environment, is going to accelerate its action in getting rid of sulphur dioxide emissions. It is very clear there may be a role for ethanol to play in that area. I am very pleased that through the initiative of members of the House, in particular the new member for Lambton-Middlesex and the member for Halton-Peel and other members, it will be the first order of business of the committee on the environment to look at how we can make ethanol work for Canadians in an environmentally friendly way.

Taxation  Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance. There are increasingly clear signs that the government will increase the tax burden of the middle class in its forthcoming budget. Experts already set the value of the underground economy at about 15 per cent of gross domestic product.

Taxation  I repeat, Mr. Speaker, our position is very clear. First, we know full well that at one point we will have to lower taxes, especially for the middle class. Second, we do not intend to really increase the tax burden that, unfortunately, Canadians already carry, but we will be widening the tax base.

Taxation  Mr. Speaker, the minister and the Prime Minister have made it clear that this year they will not make the spending cuts required to broaden the tax base, which means a net tax increase for everyone. Could the Prime Minister tell the House whether, considering the anemic state of our economic recovery, he can still claim his government is acting responsibly by increasing the tax burden on consumers and reducing their purchasing power?

Supply  In other words, we spent $900 million and we have to say, "Let us hope that it was effective". But in practice we cannot say that it was. Let us be clear on this. The program may have been a great success, but Parliament, Canadians and Quebecers have no idea that it was. Should we eliminate programs of this kind in the native community?

Supply  Speaker, if members on this side of the House do not understand the motion, perhaps members on the other side of the House failed to explain it properly, but it is quite clear when you read it. The mandate the motion wants to give this new committee happens to be the mandate of the public accounts committee. In fact, the committee can do exactly what the motion requests.

Supply  That is certainly the case on the infrastructure program for which I have some immediate responsibility for implementing. That is one of the areas where I have made it quite clear we have to be able to get a handle on it so we will understand what those outcomes are. I think my colleagues share that. Whether it is in native affairs, native economic development strategies or whatever other area, we will attempt to apply that general principle of getting an understanding of the outcomes and providing the appropriate internal audit and evaluation processes to do that.

Supply  New graphs and charts portray complex financial data in an understandable format for the first time. This clear and concise overview of the state of the government's financial affairs was added at the suggestion of the Auditor General. Another ongoing concern of his has been the need for more information on the results of government programs.

Income Tax Act  In the same year, they give with one hand and take with the other. People have trouble getting a clear message from that. There is something very contradictory. In the same fiscal year, there was a change of government, but the policy orientation is hard to grasp. I am the first one to say so.

Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements And Federal Post-Secondary Education And Health Contributions Act  Nothing at all? Nothing. Thank you, I don't think I need an answer after all. The answer is clear. Now it will be up to Canadians and Quebecers to decide whether my question and the answer I got is right: the whole thing is no good. Now that really sounds responsible. That sounds like a team that is going to make something of this province.

Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements And Federal Post-Secondary Education And Health Contributions Act  The federal government's withdrawal from various transfer programs is proving to be very expensive for Quebec. It is clear that the federal government wants to reduce its deficit at the expense of the provinces, and including Quebec. Since the Bloc's position on equalization was already explained at some length by the two previous speakers for the Official Opposition, I would like to address two areas where Quebec did not receive its fair share: research and development and established programs financing.

Softwood Lumber Industry  Speaker, what with agriculture, western wheat, magnesium, beer, steel and now softwood lumber, does the minister not agree that the American strategy is clear, namely to use every possible recourse to prevent our companies from having access to their markets?

Bosnia  Mr. Speaker, I see that it is not quite clear what steps were taken by the Serbs following this ultimatum. May we ask the Prime Minister what the terms of the ultimatum are? Exactly what will happen to the Serbs should the ultimatum be rejected?