Mr. Speaker, the Liberal old federalists in Atlantic Canada continue to fail people in the region. Their short term patronage ridden band-aid solutions are not working.
The Liberal solution to unemployment in Cape Breton is simply to airlift people out to Ontario. They cling to the belief that bureaucrats and politicians should have all the say in how regional development resources are spent. They ridicule Reform's proposal to give citizens at the provincial and community levels the tools needed to develop self-reliance and a strong economic future.
Rather than make the operations of the fisheries department more efficient, the Liberals are now imposing enormous tax increases on fishers and ports users. It is no wonder most Newfoundland MPs do not live or pay taxes there.
It is clear that this government has neither a workable short range or long term vision for the Atlantic provinces. Reform will continue to listen to the needs and aspirations of Atlantic Canadians.