I don't want to repeat myself, but I would respectfully and humbly add one plea to all the members of Parliament here, when you go back and talk in caucus to your leaders. As I recall watching the last televised leaders debate during the election, I did not hear the issue of poverty being raised once by any of the four or five leaders that I heard. You can correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought I listened pretty carefully. I think if the inflation rate or the interest rate had been 15% or 17%, that would have been discussed, but the fact that the child poverty rate is about 17%...I don't understand why it wasn't discussed. So I think that needs to be up front and centre.
If you want to be selfish, it's not just an issue of social justice for the people who are disadvantaged. It doesn't help any of our society in the present or the future if we don't help lift these people up. It's an important thing to be debated.
Thank you.