Thank you for the opportunity. I hope the timekeeper is keeping track of my time. I don't want to go over.
One thing that I promised to do when I came here was to try to be efficient so that taxpayers would receive their proper return on investment. We in this place are quite expensive, as are the officials. That's what I would like to talk to. Taxpayers expect us to defend things for them. I've seen some defence on this side, and I've seen other defences on that side.
I'm quite offended, as I think most Canadians would be, to see the Liberals defend tax loopholes. I'm talking about Mr. Brison, and I am talking about this clause, but also all the other clauses. I'm offended that he didn't listen to the experts.
Mr. Cook brought forward testimony about the SR and ED. I asked him specifically whether or not this meant a cut. He said no. There will be a reallocation of any funds saved from SR and ED. They will be reallocated to direct payments and to direct contributions to programs. There were no cuts. He answered that and then we heard a five-minute tirade from Mr. Brison about how it's a cut and SR and ED is going to be destroyed and the end of the country is near. I take great offence at that, especially because we've heard from impartial experts that this is not the case.
I've also seen many of the recommendations made by the Jenkins report. I've had discussions with Mr. Brison and he has opposed those recommendations. I find that to be very troubling, given the situation he's in now. I understand that the members on the other side have their opinions. I think it's good to have an opinion and to make a decision on that opinion and to vote on that opinion after putting forward a reasonable argument. PRPPs, though, are just another quiver in a bunch of arrows that we need to make sure Canadians save more money. This quiver also contains the tax-free savings account, which this government brought in, together with CPP.
I am concerned about the five-minute allocation. I know that I get five minutes, but I haven't used five minutes before. We've seen Mr. Brison and the Liberals use five minutes each and every time, which is their prerogative. They are also using another method that comes to nothing less than wasting time and taxpayer money. They are filibustering and continuing to ask for recorded votes. This is their privilege; it's allowed under the rules. However, the recorded vote is in the rules for one reason, to find out where individual members stand. He is using this to waste time, as is the Liberal Party. Placed by voters at the end of the list as a major party in this country, the Liberals have taken it upon themselves to do anything they can to become relevant to Canadians. In this case, they are causing the committee to pick through 3,000 amendments. They want to make sure that Canadians know they are the tail that wags the dog, or at least tries to.
I take offence at this because it's a waste of money. It's a waste of taxpayers' money. We've let many of the officials go home. There was unanimous agreement. Many of the experts from the departments have been allowed to leave, but we still have many people here who continue to be paid and continue to put in good time. Of course, their efforts are valuable and we appreciate them very much, but they are here only because the Liberals continually do everything they can to waste time and money.
The best example of this for Canadians to see is the fact that all of the votes have been 10 to 1. That means that the NDP members have actually collaborated with the Conservatives on votes. I do not believe that our policies go together on many things. I would have to say they are on the far left of any spectrum that I would be on, but we have agreed. Why? We've agreed because of the ridiculous nature of the amendments put forward by the Liberal Party. Even the NDP cannot support them. That's how ridiculous they are.
I think this shows Canadians exactly where the Liberals are right now. They are the third party. They are looking for relevance, but they will not find it here. I would suggest they will be the fourth party after the next election, and after the following one, they will have no party at all. That would be my guess.