Mr. Speaker, this Monday our government will be tabling its second budget. It is an opportunity to restore fiscal soundness and integrity to the Canadian economy. However, it is equally important that this not to occur at the expense of the middle class who already pay a disproportionate share of taxes and on whose backs much of the Canadian debt rests.
Our party's history is one of providing Canadians with hope and opportunity. Unless we begin to reign in our debt and deficit, hope and opportunity will be lost. This must be unacceptable to all members of Parliament.
The ultimate goal is to eliminate the deficit entirely. Three per cent of GDP by 1996-97 is an interim target and a very important one. It is a red book commitment and it will be met. In restoring soundness to our economy we will be able to continue one of the proudest legacies of the Liberal Party, to preserve social security, a system that would be the envy of the world-