Mr. Speaker, once again the Reform Party has insulted the intelligence of the people of Prince Edward Island and the rest of Atlantic Canada. The statement yesterday by the member for Vegreville oozed with contempt not only for local politicians but for the people themselves.
This patronizing, condescending attitude comes from a party whose solution for the problems of Atlantic Canada is simply to move people out. It comes from a party which opposes any form of regional development funding for Atlantic Canada. It comes from a party which espouses the belief that the only Canadians who deserve full health care are those who can afford it. It comes from a party which would replace the development of self-reliance in strong communities by an individually oriented survival of the fittest type society.
Perhaps most significant of all, it comes from a party that received less than 1 per cent of the popular vote in P.E.I. in the last federal election and will receive less in the next federal election.