Mr. Speaker, I am sure the many economists and business leaders who testified in front of the finance committee will know they are stupid and do not know what they are talking about.
I am somewhat surprised that the minister did not bring up this strawman comment that to do more would mean slash and burn. I am shocked that on other occasions the minister has attempted to portray all deficit cutting as slash and burn.
We know of the minister's love for hyperbole and the risk it brings, but the minister knows he is knocking a strawman. The IMF, his own advisers and Reform have offered plans that would eliminate the deficit by cutting fat and unaffordable transfer programs. Frank McKenna, Clyde Wells and other Liberal friends of his have shown how to do it.
Why does the minister not follow the consensus advice and examples available to him and make the cuts needed to preserve Canada's social safety net and enable Canadians to get back to work?