Mr. Speaker, I listened with interest to the hon. member for Etobicoke-Lakeshore, who told us about the interesting things she sees in the budget. I had the opportunity to travel with the hon. member when the Committee on Human Resources Development criss-crossed the country. I would like to know if the hon. member is as satisfied with the measures announced in the budget as with the lack of certain measures.
Was she not hoping that something would be provided for social housing? Indeed, it is clearly established that the best way to fight poverty in Canada is to provide a dwelling, at a reasonable cost, to people who often have to spend 40, 50 or 60 per cent of their budget on housing, because other forms of assistance are inadequate. Does the member not think that the budget should have provided something in that regard?
During the committee hearings held across the country, did the member hear anyone say that the government had to take $700 million out of the UI fund, as provided in the budget? Did anyone ever tell the committee that cuts should be made to the UI program? When the committee travelled to Rivière-du-Loup, did anyone ask that all transportation subsidies be eliminated immediately, that the whole economic structure of the region be changed without any transition period to adjust, and that the UI fund also be reduced, thus leading people to leave the region? Did the member hear any such thing and is she pleased with this budget as regards social housing and the cuts affecting the unemployment insurance fund and the transportation subsidies?