Madam Speaker, I want to ask a very brief question. In his initial remarks, if I heard them correctly, my colleague indicated that governments do not make jobs. I think I understand what he was getting at. Normally there are conditions under which businesses operate. If they do well their profits create jobs for Canadians or wherever they happen to be.
I would like my colleague's reaction to the following. While I accept that-and I am assuming I have interpreted his comments correctly-would he not agree that government involvement, for example in student employment as will be occurring this summer and as has occurred during the last few summers particularly during periods of study, is a noble and supportive enterprise on the part of government?
Would my colleague agree, for example, that the program we want to initiate, the youth corps, is a noble and worthy initiative that should be supported by all parties?
What about the apprenticeship program the government wants under way, particularly in areas of high tech and where jobs will be required in future growth areas?
What about those kinds of initiatives? Is the Reform Party's policy against those kinds of initiatives? I understand the basic philosophy is that if we reduce taxes more jobs will be created. However does that exclude those kinds of initiatives for youth, the new apprenticeship programs and the like that I have mentioned?