Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to glance at the budget presented by the Reform Party. It was not readily available until later this morning.
One of the concerns I have is that Reformers identify the debt as being a major problem. Certainly the government recognizes that. My concern is what their actions might do in terms of causing pressure on interest rates. They have done well in that regard because they have exerted upward pressures on interest rates. I returned from Calgary on the weekend. I had an opportunity to pick up Friday's edition of the Calgary Herald and there was a front page story about that.
It is important to reflect on the cuts Reform members are talking about because they affect very real people. This story talked about how the social services department cut off of welfare a 60-year old mother who was caring for her disabled 29-year old daughter. Given her medical condition, the daughter suffers from continual seizures. As a matter of fact, it talks about her having had 210 since January 17.
If the decision to cut off of welfare that 60-year old mother who has worked all her life were allowed to stand, it would have resulted in the 29-year old daughter being put in care at a cost of $100,000 a year. It seems to make little sense to have policies in place that would allow that kind of tragedy to occur.
I bring that forward because you can be penny wise and pound foolish. I think the Reform Party is rather light on analysis and is rather light on the fact that there are real people involved.
Does the member believe it is better not to pay $600 in welfare to a 60-year old mother so she can look after her 29-year old disabled daughter? Or does he think money is better spent by forcing the 60-year old mother into retraining and having the state support the 29-year old daughter in an institution at a very excessive cost?