Mr. Speaker, the Liberals crow about reducing the deficit, but how have they reduced it? Mainly by increases of $25 billion in tax revenue and cuts to health care and social programs of almost $7 billion. They even announced a major CPP hike on the backs of Canadians days before the budget and hoped it would be overshadowed.
The government has implemented 36 tax increases and craftily used the deindexed income tax system to its benefit. The Liberal government has increased the national debt by $100 billion, and we still have unemployment rates of nearly 10 per cent.
If the last four Liberal budgets were so successful why were there a record number of bankruptcies last year? Why are Canadians carrying record debt loads? Why are personal savings at record lows?
Canadians know the truth. They will not be fooled by a Liberal budget that spins rhetoric instead of offering hope.