Madam Speaker, I followed with interest the presentation of the hon. member for Burin-St. George's. He had the typical Liberal approach to problems, don't worry, be happy. He was even discussing cardiac arrest. I am sure if he had a cardiac arrest he would still be saying: "Don't worry, be happy, there is no problem here. Do not bother calling the doctor. We are just fine and if we are not who cares".
He was saying there is really not much in this bill, there is no change. There are a couple of little administrative things here and there. I am quoting him close enough that he will not protest. He is saying there are some little minor administrative changes but basically this bill leaves everything as is with regard to OAS and CPP and the other issues that it deals with.
I would suggest that is probably the problem. That is why we are speaking rather energetically about this bill. It is lack of action. We have seen that from this Liberal government ever since it took office: "We are not going to do anything, no changes. We will diddle around a little, change the administration, have the appearance on the outside as though we are doing something, but everything continues as the status quo".
The hon. member said we should not be suggesting the sky is falling and let us not be alarmists. Perhaps the sky is not falling but I assure the House the foundation is crumbling away and the whole building will fall in on itself.
The government talked about studying. It is becoming almost gritting for one to hear the ongoing remarks that we are going to study this or investigate that. Right now we are having a conference on health but the players are not there. We have talked about fish but there are no fish so we are going to study that. We are studying peacekeeping and defence yet we have no plan. Now we are diddling around with OAS and CPP but we are not really coming to grips with the issue. The foundation is still crumbling.
I wonder how we can study so much and still be so unintelligent and not know what to do about the problem.
I suggest to the member, rather than lecturing the Reform Party about free votes, he look at the seriousness of the situation and be concerned about his constituents who may not have OAS or CPP because while he is looking for the sky to fall, the foundation is crumbling away beneath him.
Perhaps the hon. member would like to respond to the fact that we have a younger generation coming up that has no expectation whatsoever of reaping any benefits from OAS or from CPP. This generation, our generation, has been irresponsible. We have not balanced our budgets. We are creating a debt that is going to be placed on our children that they will never be able to pay. They will not even be able to sustain the social programs that we enjoy. That is unconscionable.
I hope that the hon. member will become a little alarmed and want to change some things to provide a better future for his children and his grandchildren.