Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend a compliment, although a qualified one, to the Minister of Finance for today's announcement regarding the lifting of the freeze on grants in lieu of taxes that crown corporations pay to municipalities.
Certainly governments should live up to their tax responsibilities if they expect the public to do so, especially since the Minister of National Revenue and taxation has just raised the interest from 6 per cent to 8 per cent on late payments on income tax payments.
Recently higher levels of government have been accused of passing on the burden of fiscal restraint to lower levels. It is nice to see the situation changed in this instance. Now if only the federal government would take the same attitude toward such things as maintaining funding for health care, another source of intergovernmental dispute might disappear, or if it cannot, allow provinces some flexibility.
One small comment in the minister's announcement does however cause me a bit of concern and that is his comment that the federal government expects to face severe fiscal constraints in its 1995 budget.
I wonder if this is the same minister who has been assuring this House and the Canadian public for months now that the government will meets its budget targets, it will reduce the deficit to 3 per cent of GDP, and it will create jobs for everyone, and yes everything is coming up roses. Has he looked at the interest rates lately?
I look forward to hearing just what kind of fiscal constraints the minister expects so the Canadian taxpayer can have an idea of what to expect as well.