Golden Wedding Anniversary  Mr. Speaker, I rise to extend on behalf of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition and all of the people of Canada greetings and best wishes to Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness Prince Philip on the occasion of their Golden Wedding Anniversary. They were married 50 years ago tomorrow.

Taxation  Mr. Speaker, we are glad to finally hear that admission. The problem is that Canadians are suffering because of a tax burden which is getting higher every year. It is not a question of cutting taxes. It is a question of not raising taxes any more under bracket creep. When will the Minister of Finance or the Prime Minister stop this destructive tax on inflation, or will they continue to be known by Canadians as the bracket creeps?

Taxation  Mr. Speaker, yesterday the tax department released its 1994-95 report which confirmed that in that year alone income taxes paid by the average taxpayer went up by 10%. That is largely because the government has kept in place Brian Mulroney's hidden tax grab called bracket creep, which the OECD says is hammering our economy.

Customs Act  Mr. Speaker, I have two questions for the minister with respect to this bill. First, I asked during my remarks on the bill if the government had made an estimate as to the incremental cost to be incurred by the department in training these newly empowered customs agents to act as quasi-peace officers and furthermore what the cost of upgrading any facilities might be.

Customs Act  Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the official opposition to do something I thought I would never do in this House and have not done to this time, support a government bill. It is not easy to do but for a good cause we will sometimes support government bills. This is a well constructed and designed bill and a thoughtful approach to a problem we have in controlling criminal activity coming across our borders.

Amendment To The Constitution Of Canada (Quebec)  Mr. Speaker, I commend the hon. member for his very thoughtful remarks. Although he was not a member of the committee it seems he has paid very close attention to the evidence presented to it. Could the hon. member comment on the argument that predicates this application to extinguish subsections 1 through 4 of section 93.

Amendment To The Constitution Of Canada (Quebec)  Section 93.

Amendment To The Constitution Of Canada (Quebec)  They are precedents.

Amendment To The Constitution Of Canada (Quebec)  Madam Speaker, congratulations on your elevation to the chair. I commend the learned and honourable member for his presentation. He is a distinguished constitutional authority and an asset to this place as such an authority. I would however take issue with some of his conclusions.

Amendment To The Constitution Of Canada (Quebec)  Mr. Speaker, there seems to be this impenetrable refusal to listen to what I am saying. I am not denying the consensus in favour of establishing linguistic school boards. I literally said that six times in my main remarks. We make that clear two or three times in our dissenting report.

Amendment To The Constitution Of Canada (Quebec)  Mr. Speaker, first of all I made it very clear at the outset of my remarks, as did the Reform Party, in its dissenting opinion that we recognize there is virtually unanimous consensus in Quebec for the creation of linguistic school boards. I said that half a dozen times in my speech.

Amendment To The Constitution Of Canada (Quebec)  Mr. Speaker, before question period in addressing the proposed amendment to section 93 of the British North America Act I was discussing the lack of consensus that exists in Quebec, in particular among the groups most directly affected. I want to reiterate for the record that prior to tabling this resolution in the national assembly the Quebec government held no hearings on the amendment.

Amendment To The Constitution Of Canada (Quebec)  Madam Speaker, I rise on behalf of the official opposition to speak to the proposed changes to the Constitution Act, 1867, to amend paragraphs (1) to (4) of section 93, which provide for the creation of denominational school boards in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario. The proposed change to the Constitution Act follows a resolution adopted by the National Assembly of Quebec, asking the federal government to amend section 93 of the act to facilitate the establishment of linguistic school boards.

Amendment To The Constitution Of Canada (Quebec)  Madam Speaker, I commend the hon. member for his remarks and diligent participation in committee. He is undoubtedly sincere. I have a couple of questions for him. He and his minister both mentioned a number of groups in favour of the amendment that appeared before the joint committee.

Amendment To The Constitution Of Canada (Quebec)  I never heard you, that's why.