Mr. Speaker, I rise on the same point of order. I have a letter in front of me from the Minister of Finance in which he refers to the subject matter my friend from Gander-Grand Falls raised as a cost presumably to the taxpayers of Canada. He pegs that cost at $125 million for 1995-96 and $145 million for 1996-97.
We are not dealing with petty cash here. We are dealing with a significant amount of taxpayers' dollars. What ordinary Canadians want to know is if it is such an important piece of legislation, why is it coming via the unelected Senate of Canada? Since when does an unelected group of men and women down the hall from this elected Chamber introduce legislation that will have the result of withdrawing from the public purse $125 million this year and $145 million next year?
Surely that moral and legal right ought to be that of the government of the day. It is the government that should be setting public policy, not unelected senators.
I lend my support to the member who raised this point. If it is the government's wish, and I understand the government is supporting this initiative, why bring in the back door what they do not have the courage to bring in through the front door?
Let us have an honest debate in the House of Commons. Let us have them introduce it as a government bill. Let us debate it at second reading. Let us send it to the committee. Let us have the courage as elected people to call a spade a spade.
The minister refers to it as a cost in his letter. It must be a cost because it will cost you and I and every other taxpayer close to $300 million over the next two years.