Madam Speaker, The principal causes of the deficit are speculation in currencies which cause changes in the interest rates and globalization of economies which allows large multinational corporations to manipulate and speculate on products, derivatives and currencies. For example, I was told yesterday by a prominent member of government that each time interest rates go up by 1 per cent it costs us $1.7 billion per year in additional payments on our debt. If it goes up by two points it is twice that amount. Those are the types of things that cause the deficit.
In addition, many people are getting away without paying the taxes they should be paying. The tax system is not fair. There was some movement in the budget to correct it. I applaud that and I support that but it did not go far enough.
With respect to the other question the member asked regarding a new way of arranging Canada, I supported in the House and voted for both the Meech Lake accord and the Charlottetown accord. Both were eventually defeated. Those accords would have rearranged the structures in Canada.
I believe in maintaining and even increasing the payments to the provinces for social programs, but I also believe that national standards should be set by the federal government. The federal government can equalize opportunity and care throughout the country. That is the humane thing to do.