Madam Speaker, I have lots of sympathy for the Liberal members who must rise in this House and speak in favour of a bill which is not justifiable. It is unjustifiable because it does not state things clearly.
When they talk about such a bill being compassionate, when they pretend its intent is to meet people's needs, when we know quite well it is meant to save money, I might agree with the idea of saving money, but they are not telling it as it is, and I do not agree with that.
During the election campaign, the Bloc Quebecois said we should cut government spending by $10 billion. The government adopted part of our ideas and is trying to cut back, but in all the wrong places. Instead of reducing government spending, they cut into the social safety net we painstakingly set up by paying out large sums of money and they do not touch the machinery of government. Who will benefit ultimately? Students who will see their tuition fees increase? How can they pretend this bill meets their needs? Women who will now receive unemployment benefits only if they prove their spouse is not earning too much? How can this bill meet the needs of those people? How will the frequently unemployed who will see their benefits decrease-