Mr. Speaker, I listened with great interest to the hon. member's suggestion that a reduction of government spending equal to 1 per cent of GDP would cause an economic contraction and downturn in this country. Surely the Canadian economy is not that feeble.
The hon. member stands there and uses the old Keynesian magic of pump priming. Just spend more money. Get the government involved as deeply as it can in the economy and everything will be fine.
If that discredited philosophy worked, this country would have no problems. Canadian governments have spent like drunken sailors for 30 years. If Keynes was 100 per cent right, then there would be no unemployment in this country. There would be no debt. There would be no deficit.
We have heard it all. The previous two governments have done it all. They have wrecked this country by abiding by their faith in this wonderful pump priming philosophy. They should have the gumption to face up to reality, see what has been happening in this country and perhaps join the new parade. Start to realize the people out there know what is going on. That is why they come to these rallies. The ordinary common people are speaking and telling us as parliamentarians to get our act together.