Madam Speaker, I congratulate my colleague from Richelieu on his heartfelt speech in which he shared his past experience with the House. Of course, he raised points denouncing the behaviour of our Liberal friends opposite who, when they were in opposition, criticized the Tories on the issue of cuts to social programs and often on the tax system. He told us clearly that the Liberal Party was not the same after the election.
I wish to ask my colleague from Richelieu if, on the basis of his experience in federal politics, he could explain to us how a party like the federal Liberal Party, which initiated major social programs, which used to pay lip service to the need to defend the most disadvantaged in society, is now cutting UI benefits and transfer payments to the provinces for social assistance and education, while at the same time closing its eyes to the fact that some members of society do not pay the taxes they owe the government. The question I want to ask my colleague is this: Based on his experience, how did the federal Liberal Party reach this point?