Mr. Speaker, debates like today's debate on Bill C-49 give Canadian viewers an opportunity to really distinguish between the two visions that exist in this House. The vision proposed by the Reform Party sees government and governance in its most evil way. The vision espoused by Liberals is that government and its agencies can be a source of positive change for the good of the collective. It is really important to note that because it makes people understand the difference between the Reform Party and the Liberal Party.
As a member of the greater Toronto Liberal caucus I am quite happy today to see that Fortune magazine named the greater Toronto area as the number one international best city for work and family. I am proud of that achievement because in the Toronto area since the 1993 election of the federal Liberal government, there has been greater co-operation between all stakeholders in various communities.
There has been a greater sense of purpose. Government has not been standing in the way of business but rather it has been a full partner in bringing about the type of economic change and increasing the viability of businesses, in helping with productivity.
I have some examples of positive things the government has done. There are programs related to technology partnerships Canada, the Canadian television and cable production fund and the program for export market development, not to mention the work of the Federal Business Development Bank and other government agencies that serve the Canadian public very well.
I would like to return to the Federal Business Development Bank. I remember a couple of years ago when two of my constituents, who were around the ages of 20 and 21, came to my constituency office to ask if they could get some advice on how to run a business and perhaps access some funding so they could start a technology based business.
I am very happy to tell the House that a couple of months ago these constituents came back to my office and expressed a great deal of gratitude for the advice that I was able to provide to them. I was happy to find out they were doing quite well. They are brothers who are now self-employed in the growing technology industry. They told me that this year they will be recording a profit of approximately $723,000.
Two years ago these two young Canadians, obviously very bright and technologically advanced, were part of the unemployment
statistics of this country. The help came from the Federal Business Development Bank which was able to provide them with the type of capital required.
Let us look at the function of government in that equation. These young people knew that they could approach a member of Parliament who has a constituency office and is there to provide help in connecting young people or his or her constituents to government agencies that are there to help them. This is a perfect example of the positive role the government plays, whether it plays it in a constituency office or through various departments. Nevertheless it speaks to the fact that government can play a positive role in the lives of Canadians.
Therefore, the anti-government and anti-government agency feelings expressed by the Reform Party are based on a very simplistic view of the world, not to mention the fact that I do sense parochialism based on the bottom line. It is not whether these agencies are producing services that are good for people or providing young people or small business people with opportunities. The only thing it wants to do is slash and burn. Once that is done then the Reform Party will be happy.
I cannot remember the exact title of their booklet, but in this booklet the Reform Party has now changed its tune and wants to actually spend more money. The reality is that Canadians have learned through the years of Liberal government that a more balanced approach, a two track approach where we are reducing the deficit, creating jobs and investing in people, is really the route to go.
Nothing makes me more proud than to be part of a government that actually hits the targets it sets. We can look at some of its records and listen to the finance minister's announcement that the federal deficit for 1995-96 was $28.6 billion. That is $4.1 billion lower than the $32.7 billion target for the year.
The reason why I am happy and proud to be part of this government and this caucus is because I remember sitting on the other side of the House when the Conservative government was in power. I remember the then minister of finance, Michael Wilson, never ever hitting a target on the deficit.
The present Minister of Finance has created a great deal of confidence in the economy of Canada. We are hitting the deficit targets. The deficit has been lowered. Inflation is low. Consumer and business confidence is better than it has been for many years. This is the type of role the government has played in the lives of Canadians. It speaks to the fact that when a party such as the Liberal Party comes into power with a plan and sticks to that plan which was endorsed by the people of Canada, then great results are achieved.
That is why today we are able to stand before Canadians and say that the red book plan is working for them. Unemployment numbers are down. Over 700,000 jobs have been created. We are investing in our young people more than any previous government.
Beside me is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources Development who has worked extremely hard to make sure that the priorities of young people are looked after by the government. That is why the Minister of Finance was able to announce an increase in the federal budget by approximately $350 million toward youth programs, for a total of $1 billion for youth programs. That does not include the $2.5 billion or 57 per cent increase for Canada student loans which will allow young people to access education. Since I am talking about our young people, I also want to remind Canadians from coast to coast about the $165 million invested in education tax credits to further enhance opportunities for young people.
The bill before us today proposes a style of government that is efficient and smaller. But unlike members of the Reform Party who basically think that in order to reach a deficit target you need to slash and burn, we believe there is a better way, a smarter way to bring positive change to the lives of Canadians.
As I conclude my remarks, I want to give some practical examples of how the government has been able to achieve positive ends for people. For example, interest rates have decreased 18 times over the last 17 months. Between January 1995 and October 1996 short term interest rates fell to 4.75 per cent. The prime lending rate charged by Canada's chartered banks has fallen to 5.25 per cent, the lowest rate since 1959. I was not even born in 1959.
As a member of Parliament who was born in 1960, I am happy that happy times are here again and that people can look to the future with optimism and a sense of confidence that speaks to developing a nation that is once again prosperous.
Our achievements are far too many to list in this debate. I can talk about the fact that in my area we have the lowest crime rate ever, thanks to the measures taken by the Minister of Justice under the leadership of the Prime Minister. Businesses are looking to the future with a great deal of optimism because interest rates are low and consumer confidence is high. People are being equipped with the skills required to take on the global economy of the 21st century.
After having heard this morning that the greater Toronto area was the best place in the world in which to live, I can only say it is only matched by the fact that I am a part of perhaps the best government in the history of this country.