Madam Speaker, I would like to commend my hon. friend from Kings--Hants for his remarks. We share a perspective on many of these issues, including the need for re-prioritization.
In order to transfer resources to high priority spending areas, my party has identified items of low priority spending which could be reduced such as regional development schemes like ACOA, western economic diversification and FORD-Q and reductions in transfers to crown corporations like the CBC. We are also opposed to the retrograde changes in employment insurance which his party voted for and which is now one of the principal drivers of increased costs in the budget.
Could the member comment on whether he supports eliminating spending on corporate welfare, regional development programs and subsidies to crown corporations?
I understand that his party is in favour of the implementation of the Kyoto accord which many economists have predicted could cost the economy between 3% and 10% of the gross domestic product. Does the member support the implementation of the Kyoto accord regardless of its economic cost?