The hon. member says that he failed. I point out some facts that indicate it did not fail. It was a very significant budget. It will be a great success.
It takes action to reduce government spending and refocus activities of government on priorities and needs. The goal of the strategy is clear, concrete and compelling. It is to restore national fiscal health to Canada. In so doing it will reshape the role of government to build a stronger and more dynamic Canadian economy.
The budget will provide sustained growth for Canada and confidence in Canada's future. New jobs will be created as a result of the budget in spite of the ones that are lost, which we all regret. It will also allow the Canadian government to preserve its ability to help those in need. Major cuts in the social programs of the country are not contained in the budget.
To meet the goal, the budget delivers on the commitment to cut the deficit to 3 per cent of the economy in two years. That was a red book commitment. Hon. members opposite do not like to hear about the red book because it upsets them. It was a success. It worked and it is still working.