Mr. Speaker, there has never been a better expression of the difference that exists between the Reform Party and the government than the one just expressed by the member.
He in fact said that the end of government was to reduce the deficit, that the purpose of government was to make itself smaller. That is not true. The purpose of government is to make itself smarter. The purpose in reducing the deficit is to help in job creation. The fundamental role of the country is to give its citizens a better future.
Yes, we have done a great deal to reduce the deficit. We will continue to reduce the deficit and we will balance the budget, but that is not the end of this society. The purpose of society is to give citizens a better standard of living, to give children a better chance and to make sure we take children out of poverty. That is what we will do.