Madam Speaker, my colleague's constituents may be receiving this budget very well, but the people I represent in the riding of Matapédia-Matane are not.
The Minister of Finance told us in his speech, and he quoted his father, that it is necessary to plan ahead with courage and determination. I think that the Minister of Finance showed great courage and determination in looking to the least well off members of our society for money, and much timidity and hesitation in his treatment of the wealthy.
Very often, the members opposite accuse us of being negative. My honourable colleague, I am going to ask you a question and make a suggestion. I would like you to respond, positively I hope, to this suggestion. I will read you a few lines: "The Minister of Finance has deliberately avoided mentioning in this budget the large aquarium that is home to 104 elderly members of the same contented species, whose somnambulistic performance costs the government more than $42 million annually, not to mention the $349 million their former colleagues, also non-elected, draw in pensions".
Nevertheless, starting next year the government will quite happily go after the elderly. How is it that this budget does not touch the senators, who are costing us, who are costing the public, $42 million, not to mention their retired colleagues, who are costing a fortune?