If you do not have the figures at hand today, Mr. Minister, I really would like you to send the information to the committee. I want to know by how many the public service has increased in the last two years. I would like to have that information. We know that savings of $900 million were forecast, but the increase in the number of public servants is going to wipe out those savings and cause an even greater loss.
I am indeed talking about respect for taxpayers, Mr. Minister. First of all, as we know, you have increased taxes on the middle class; the Fraser Institute has proved that. In addition, when you negotiate with public servants, you also have to represent the interests of those who pay their salaries. It is very easy to accede to the demands made to you; you say yes to almost every expenditure. However, we need somebody to say that we do in fact have to deal with the public service properly, but in so doing, we must also consider the taxpayers’ ability to pay. That is why I would have liked to hear you say this afternoon that it is important to respect the taxpayers’ ability to pay when the time comes to negotiate compensation for the public service.