Mr. Speaker, there are a number of questions and I will attempt to answer them all.
It is true taxes are quite high. It is also true that in the foreseeable future as a result of a debt that was more than doubled by the previous government, a debt we will have to continue.
Let us look at figures. When the previous government came into power the debt was roughly $179 billion. That is the figure from the auditor general. When this government came into power it was almost three times as much. Let us put it in perspective.
That is one of the reasons the Reform Party will never get anywhere. It does not understand the big picture. It exaggerates. I am surprised that my colleague did not mention we are now spending $7 billion less than in the 1994-95 estimates. I am surprised my colleague did not mention that as a result of the program review, a rational review to make sure government was doing what it ought to be doing, we have saved $3.4 billion.
How I wish I had more time. I have a series of quotes, because I had anticipated the question from one of my Reform colleagues, applauding the Liberal budget, recognizing nothing is perfect. I have other quotes and I tried to find one positive one about the Reform budget in which the figures did not add up.I could not find one positive quote.
I find it very difficult to have a member of the Reform Party telling us we do not have it right when the majority of Canadians
think we are doing it right. It does not mean it cannot be improved but we have started in the right direction.