Mr. Speaker, I will try to be brief and to the point on the member's questions.
First, the member asked why the government was in this business. If the government were not in the business at this moment in time there would be a virtual monopoly. Is the member from the Reform Party promoting monopolies? I do not think so.
Second, he called it a subsidy. It is not a subsidy. The whole premise of the member's argument was based on the word subsidy. It is loan insurance. It is not the Government of Canada making direct loans. In the judgment of the officials it is a collaborative effort by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the banks and the private sector.
The third item has to do with why we are all in this room. This room is not a bus going down the street so that we can look out the window and see people crying out for our help, whether they be young people, middle aged people or older people. This room is not a bus that drives by and says that it only has time for those who can look after themselves.
In essence we are in this room so that when we look out the window of a bus driving down the street, stop the bus, get out and help people in need. There are many people who do not have financial resources either to own a home or have shelter over their heads without this lever or this instrument of national government. I am getting sick and tired of being in the House of Commons with the Reform Party encouraging the bus to go down the street and disregard the people who are crying out for help.
The bill before the House looks after disadvantaged people and the Reform Party should get behind it.