Madam Speaker, I am not able to associate with this picture by my colleagues in the Reform Party. Day in and day out they try to paint this as a sinking country that one cannot live in and that has so many things wrong with it.
For the third time in a row the United Nations has clearly stated that Canada is the best country in the world in which to live and raise a family. Twenty years ago when I came to this country I knew Canada was the finest and best country in the world. I say that over and over again.
I do not understand what is wrong with my colleague. Perhaps we should establish a fund for our colleagues in the Reform Party to send them abroad to look at the world. When they come back to Canada, maybe then they will start talking about the positive things that exist here. Then they could truly appreciate all of the good things we have and will come to the conclusion that we have to work collectively in order to make it even better.
This negativity day in and day out, the doom and gloom is not serving anybody. It is not serving the interests of Canada. Business people have told us over and over again: "Give us the tools and we will make it happen". Government has to provide a proper environment in order for business to create jobs and we are doing that.
Economic indicators by all agencies, whether from Canada or abroad, whoever we talk to, all of the economists agree that Canada and this government is going in the proper, right direction. We are leading the other industrialized countries in terms of growth. According to the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister we are way over what we have forecast in terms of economic growth.
What is wrong? In terms of what the government is spending annually versus what we are getting in terms of revenue, we are in a surplus position. However, we have a debt and interest to pay on it.
For my colleague to turn around and attack the government for its track record is unfair. He should stand up and congratulate this government, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, every member of the cabinet and government for a job very well done. That is what he should do. Stop the doom and gloom. Talk about the positive. Smell the roses. Have some coffee. Maybe he would wake up.