Yes, Mr. Speaker, obviously equity has to be the foundation upon which all these cuts are made. Not only should equity be the foundation but it should be leadership by example and leadership from this House. The reason I have volunteered to take a 10 per cent reduction in salary is to show leadership by example.
The hon. member talks about children in the home and all children realizing the same impact of the cuts. We should first of all take into consideration that perhaps some of the children have gone their own way and are in a better position or are more financially able and capable of taking cuts than the others.
When we look at equity we have to look at the bottom line. Individuals and provinces in Canada that have the resources and the wherewithal to pay it are going to have to pay it. That is the bottom line.
Let me use the French military college in St. Jean as an example. There has been much said in Quebec about the closing of this college and it being a slap in the face to Quebec. The military college in Victoria closed as well. We cannot afford, on a reduced military as suggested by the Bloc, everything we want. I think this an area in which we are going to have to do with less. We must accept this.