Mr. Speaker, now I have heard everything in this House. When it is said that the deficit is due to unpaid taxes, this is not showing responsibility. It is irresponsible. Come on, now. Does that mean that the taxpayers have not paid enough taxes? What does that mean? What lies behind those words? I think that the government was unable to raise taxes this year because it knows very well that taxpayers have been taxed as much as they can bear. There have been no additional taxes, so I think the hon. member's remarks are not very realistic.
When a member speaks of giving funding to enable students to find jobs, the funding goes to businesses and the latter are the ones who are going to profit. There is one thing that I would like to say: behind all this, the budget is two faced. Let me tell you what cuts students have had to face. There was a $26 million cut in summer employment programs two years ago. Funding was reduced to $60 million and now that is being doubled to $120 million, but still $26 million were cut. There are cuts to the provinces for health, education, social assistance, to the tune of $4 billion. So who are the fall guys? The students, because the provinces will be obliged to make cuts in educational programs. They are making the worst cuts ever in 1996-97, $150 million at the post-secondary level. With such cuts, I do not think the results will be all that fabulous. It is kind of cynical, to help students so that they may shoulder a greater burden.
To my mind, these are inefficient and ineffective measures. Students, moreover, do not seem to be all that grateful for the pittance contributed to allow them to find summer jobs. And not all students will be the chosen ones who will find jobs. We know very well that it is a very competitive atmosphere and that businesses will take the cream of the crop. Students are not all that thrilled with this pittance. Because funding to education is being cut, their tuition fees will end up being raised.