Mr. Speaker, the finance minister has put the dealings of his companies into a trust which is not in any way influenced by any of his actions.
To follow through on the hon. member's implication, which I find extremely distasteful, the implication is that because the finance minister has had past successful business dealings he should not be sitting in the cabinet of the Government of Canada.
It seems to me if one wants a balanced approach one needs to have people in cabinet, in caucus and in government who have some strong connections with the labour movement, with the business community and with social activists. That is what democracy is all about. For heaven's sake, I think Paul Martin is an excellent addition to a cabinet team.