Mr. Speaker, this week the government will be bringing forward its long-awaited social policy reform paper. Certainly poverty is increasing in this country, not decreasing, and there needs to be real change in the way that we deal with these issues.
However, I would say that while we see lots of hype about welfare reforms, let us take a look at whose welfare really needs reform. Each year thousands of corporate companies get away with paying no income tax and receive millions of dollars in tax credits.
There are no means or income tests for the corporate sector as there are for those on unemployment insurance or welfare.
In 1992, 7 per cent of tax revenues came from corporate income tax and 48 per cent came from personal income taxes.
Poverty is on the increase in this country and the Liberal government has decided to hit the middle class yet again through social policy reform while continuing to let the corporations off scot-free.
Take the Auditor General's recommendations. Taxing offshore profits is $600 million and taxing private family trusts is another $400 million.