Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with my colleague from Durham.
Today, the opposition has decided to move a motion deploring the federal government's decision to hold consultations on the taxation system.
I wish to congratulate the government and the Minister of Finance for this initiative, for it is a highly significant one. I cannot personally claim to be an expert in tax reform, nor do I believe that any of my colleagues here in the House are experts in that area.
If they are, my colleagues will all have time to voice their opinions, whether Liberal, Bloc or Reform. After all, every day in this House we have a chance to make proposals, to pass on our ideas and proposals to the government and to the Minister of Finance, not only on tax system reform, but on any other matter before the House of Commons.
I would respond to my colleague by saying that, since we were elected, the federal government has taken all, or most, of the measures required to put a dynamic economy in place, one that satisfies the public.
One need only look at what the government has done over the past two years in connection with the deficit, which is a matter of concern to all Canadians. Our government has promised to control the deficit. I am sure my opposition colleagues will be able to find it in themselves to congratulate the government for controlling the deficit for two years running. We hope it will continue to be controlled in the years to come.
The private sector has long been asking the government to control the deficit, because, by controlling the deficit, there will be a lot more money for social programs, old age programs, youth programs and health programs. It will also create an atmosphere that would encourage the private sector to create jobs in Canadian society.
Another thing the private sector has long requested of the government is control of the rate of inflation. At the moment in Canada, inflation is at its lowest point in 30 years. This is quite extraordinary, and we should be proud of what the government has done in this area.
The other thing Canadians and the private sector have asked the government to do is control interest rates. People in business, people with mortgages on their home and people who need to borrow to pay their debts will have an opportunity to borrow at a low interest rate. Since our arrival here, the interest rates have been low.
The third thing is economic indicators. If we look at what the government has done up to now, we see that Canadian society and Canada's economy are the strongest among those of all the industrialized countries. The economic indicators are very encouraging. This is one area where the federal government should be congratulated, because it has done something very interesting and of great significance for the private sector and the people of Canada.
Furthermore, in the budget the Minister of Finance delivered in this House, an extraordinary program was implemented. I wish my hon. colleagues opposite would congratulate the government on taking action. For instance, they should look at what the Minister of Finance said in this House about improving assistance to Canadian companies and industries involved in research and development; they should look at what this government has done in terms of reforming seniors programs; they should look at what it has done in terms of reforming programs for Canadian youth, and for students in particular, who will be out looking for work within two or three months and in the next year; they should look at what the government has done for exports. Finally, the Minister of Finance told us that the government would be introducing concrete measures to help Canadian companies export even more.
Why did he say that? Because, ultimately, Canada's economic growth depends directly on the export rate of Canadian products. We must realize that many of the jobs we have in Canada exist only because one company or another is exporting to other countries. It is therefore very important that we put in place measures to help these companies trade in exports. I would say that our government has taken active measures in this respect. My colleagues and myself congratulate the Minister of Finance on his action in this area.
There is also the fact that small and medium size businesses in Canada have been creating and continue to create the majority of new jobs in this country. Again, the federal government took active measures, especially regarding banks that lend money to small and medium size businesses. The government has invested some $50 million in helping small business.
I would expect my hon. friend from the opposition to congratulate the federal government. I would not expect the Bloc Quebecois to use an allotted day just to attack the Minister of Finance's initiative. The Minister of Finance wants to involve experts in the taxation reform. He wants to discuss this matter with the public.
He is looking for proposals and suggestions. This does not prevent any of our colleagues, on either side of this chamber, from telling us how they would go about revising the taxation system. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to say a few words on this
subject and I expect that now one of my hon. friends opposite will jump to his feet to congratulate the government on a job well done, right?