Madam Speaker, I have also listened to the Canadian people throughout much of my term as a member of Parliament. The last six years have been very tumultuous times, coming through the Mulroney era of putting a lot of pain on the backs of Canadians, and now sitting through this Parliament and the development of this budget, with taxpayers from coast to coast saying they have been taxed enough.
The finance minister claims this budget did not raise income tax for ordinary Canadians. That is not quite correct. A large number of Canadians were receiving and will receive to the end of this year the northern tax allowance. This tax allowance provides those who live further away from government services a benefit which other taxpayers do not enjoy.
The hon. member shares a part of the country with me, that is, people who currently receive northern tax allowances. Does he not believe it is unfair for those taxpayers in the phase out of the program this year to have to pay additional taxes?