Mr. Speaker, I would like to explain exactly the point I made in a speech I gave to the Canadian Association of Family Enterprises last week.
At this stage in our economic cycle when corporate profits are recovering, which is a very good sign, it is time for Canadians to continue to invest in further productivity gains and further competitiveness as we had through the economic cycle.
We have been very successful in gaining competitive points vis-a-vis the rest of the world although much of it has unfortunately been based on our exchange rate. We need to continue to save and continue to invest.
Canadians from coast to coast have lived on no increase in family income on average over the past 10 years. They will be asked by their corporate leaders to continue to keep their belts tight as federal public servants have and as all members of the House of Commons have by not taking a wage increase in over five years. The time is not yet to start raising wages. The time is now to continue to invest and save.