Mr. Speaker, I was happy to hear the Prime Minister admit that there are tax inequities. This, incidentally, is one of the proposals he will find in the report submitted to him by the Official Opposition, which suggests 10 ways to reduce his deficit problem. I would ask him to read these recommendations, which were tabled in both official languages about two weeks ago. It may be time for him to read them.
In order to meet their commitment to reduce the deficit to 3 per cent of GDP by 1996-97, the Liberal members on the finance committee are proposing higher taxes for all taxpayers through a supposedly temporary surtax. The Official Opposition, however, believes that the deficit can be substiantially reduced without raising personal income tax, by making vigorous efforts to collect unpaid taxes and cut spending, including inappropriate tax expenditures.
Instead of raising taxes for all taxpayers, will the Minister of Finance finally decide to fairly and seriously consider all the proposals made by the Official Opposition to help him cut the deficit in an intelligent way?