Mr. Speaker, the problem is that the government is trying to have it all ways. It is using facts and figures to try to meet its arguments. Sometimes it is a five year tax cut; other times it is a one year tax cut. Even if we are generous and look at the so-called $100 billion tax reduction over a five year period, we are only talking about $43.5 billion over five years.
Let us look at the payroll taxes for this fiscal year. I was astounded to hear from my colleague across the floor that there was no EI fund. The EI fund is not taxpayer dollars, and this is a key point. The EI fund is taken from workers and employers. The purpose of the EI fund is to ensure there is a solid system for men and women, hardworking Canadians who lose their jobs. It is not to fund government programs and mismanagement. That is the whole issue.
The government should come clean on it. If it is using the EI fund to fund other programs and to cover up its mismanagement it should state that. It should simply state that there is no EI fund and the chief actuary should not be there. It should stop the charade and say that all funds going into the EI system from workers is a tax.
Canadian workers should be told that their money does not go for their own EI possibilities but to the finance minister for his or her pet projects. I am fascinated to hear from the government side that is the purpose of the EI fund.