Conservative Party of Canada  Mr. Speaker, for 17 years, the Bloc has been saying a lot, complaining a lot and criticizing a lot, but not doing a lot. The Bloc is nothing more than a privileged lobby that enjoys the salaries and social benefits of the very federal system it denounces. Fortunately, the Conservative government has the will and ability to take action in the interests of Quebec and Canadians: Quebec's formal role at UNESCO; recognition of the nation of Quebec; funding for Quebec's green plan; the softwood lumber agreement; funding for autoroute 30; return of the land at Mirabel airport; increase of custom tariffs on milk protein concentrate imports.

Official Languages  Mr. Speaker, the Commissioner of Official Languages launched an inquiry while the Liberals were still in power. He found that the Canadian Forces were not increasing their bilingual workforce quickly enough under the former government. The new model of the official languages program announced by our Conservative government implements the commissioner's 13 recommendations.

Natural Resources  Mr. Speaker, we want a forest industry that is strong, competitive and dynamic. Today we announced funding of $127.5 million so that those who depend on the forest industry can look to the future with confidence. This initiative will help promote innovation, expand markets and combat pests, and will help address skills and adjustment issues, which are of concern to the industry.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for her good question. The Conservative government is responsible for ensuring the stability of future energy sources for future generations, unlike the Bloc Québécois, which will never be able to make any decisions to help Canadians in terms of environmental or energy issues.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his good question. In my presentation, I believe that I clearly stated that renewable energy will be important to the future of our country. We are all aware that quantities of fossil fuels will diminish in the generations to come and that we must change the balance in our consumption of fossil fuels and renewable energy.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I will share my time with the member for Louis-Hébert. In many comments we hear in this House concerning the government's environmental agenda, and in particular its ecoenergy renewable initiative, there is little mention of what we are actually talking about. I would like to take this opportunity to comment on the various kinds of renewable energy with which the government's legislation is concerned.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to see that my hon. colleague is very concerned about the environment. He was just telling us about renewable energies, which is very interesting. I would like to know what he thinks about our government’s strategy, which is to work more on renewable energy, biofuels and the wind sector.

Quebec Sovereignty  Mr. Speaker, With the author Michel Tremblay, playwright Robert Lepage and singer Jean-Pierre Ferland questioning the sovereignist plan and simply no longer believing in it, now one of the strongest voices for sovereignty, the president of the Conseil de la souveraineté du Québec, Gérald Larose, is saying there will not be a referendum during the next mandate of the Parti Québécois should it form the government under the leadership of André Boisclair.

Bloc Québécois  Mr. Speaker, in Quebec City yesterday, the Bloc Québécois leader dared to suggest that the Conservative government has caused Quebec to regress. Does the leader of the Bloc Québécois really believe that recognizing Quebeckers as a nation within a united Canada constitutes a step backwards?

Canadian Wheat Board  Mr. Speaker, I would like to answer my friend's question. Supply management and the Canadian Wheat Board are two completely different issues, and we have no intention of touching supply management as such.

Agriculture  Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his excellent question. It is with great pleasure that, yesterday, the minister and I announced a plan to help producers in Saint-Amable who are affected by the golden nematode issue. The federal government is contributing $5.4 million to this plan, including $2 million in new money that will be paid to the 28 producers affected.

Agriculture and Agri-Food  Mr. Speaker, I would like to assure this House that this new government will always listen to farmers and that Quebec will always have its fair share. This goes for the potato farmers of Saint-Amable, as well as the pork producers, beef farmers, dairy farmers and so on. In fact, Quebec will receive over $400 million.

Agriculture and Agri-Food  Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind my hon. colleague that, in 16 years of existence, his party has done absolutely nothing to help Canadian farmers. This new government listens to our farmers and is committed to helping farmers across Canada, including those in Quebec.

Bloc Québécois  Mr. Speaker, after 16 years in Ottawa in eternal opposition, the Bloc's record is pretty dismal, especially compared to the achievements of this Conservative government. Since 1990, the Bloc has only two private members' bills to its credit and they were to change the name of two ridings.

The Québécois  Mr. Speaker, today I prefer to talk about the recognition of the Québécois. What affects me so profoundly is that my children, who are between 10 and 16 years of age, asked me “Why has the Bloc Québécois caused this debate?” Why, here in Canada, should we think that there could one day be a separation?