Mr. Speaker, during the five minutes I have left, I would like to make a few comments on the speech by the member who just spoke.
It is rather surprising to hear him make such remarks when we know what he used to say when he was in the opposition. How dare he come and tell us with a straight face that unemployment has dropped when it has only fallen by one point and only because unemployed workers are now on social assistance. There is nothing to rejoice about.
What I cannot understand is that the member, instead of being ashamed of his government's performance, and trying to put a good face on a ridiculous budget, is boasting about it. He is boasting about his government's performance. He claims that his government has created 100,000 jobs, but with what projects? With what? With what vision? With what performance? This government has no economic vision.
Speaking of the last budget, what did it amount to? It amounts to the creation of 32 or 33 committees of all kinds to consult people, whereas before the elections, they were brandishing their red book saying that they had solutions for everything. They had solutions for everything but when the time came to table the budget, the only solution they had was the same disease the Tories suffered from, which is to consult the people. We have consultations on defence policy, consultations on economic matters, consultations regarding social programs, but no decisions.
And the member opposite dares come here and boast about his government's performance! There is a total lack of vision in the bills this government has presented since it came to power. They have no vision and they come and tell us that everything is fine. They talk about infrastructure, temporary jobs, jobs created with borrowed money. They say they will create 90,000 jobs, 60,000 jobs or maybe 45,000 jobs, none of them long-term. Is it the only thing you have to offer your son who is graduating after four years in university? What is he supposed to do? Work for a
few months at a job provided by the infrastructure program? Is this the best you have to offer your son, sir? Mr. Speaker, through you, I am talking to the member and I think I am getting him upset.
Well, this government, which has no vision, has decided to consult the people instead of making decisions. Consultations like people in bars would have held. You only have to listen to open-line shows to know that people are fed up, that they want decisions, cuts, changes and a fairer tax system.
Why not do something about family trusts? About tax havens? Because the people who benefit from them are the same people who finance your party. Now that you are in office, you do exactly what the Conservatives did. It is your turn to enjoy pork-barrelling. Instead of saying "We will not do as the Conservatives did", as you promised to do while in opposition, you have not changed a thing. You come up with the same kind of budget, the same kind of statements. You brag about decreasing the unemployment rate, when you had nothing to do with it. You brag about creating jobs, even though not one program has been set up since you came to office, and no economic direction has been given. You are behaving exactly like the Conservatives did in 1984.
You had five months to answer my questions, dear colleague. Five months to let me know of your government's intentions through statements by ministers and a budget that holds up. But no, we got nothing at all.
I would be pleased if the hon. member could give me an answer, albeit a short one. You have already talked too much, that is why I did not leave you much time to reply. I would like the hon. member to tell me how he can be proud of what his government has done, since the unemployed have seen their benefits reduced, as of April 1, and have lost $1 billion-