Mr. Speaker, the Reform Party made remarkable gains in the six byelections yesterday.
Liberal patronage opened the way for the election in five safe Liberal ridings. Two of those safe seats gave the Liberals a scare last night, thanks to Reform.
The byelections are over but the issues remain. Will the new backbencher from Labrador fight to correct the injustice to his constituents posed by the Churchill Falls hydroelectric contract? Will the backbencher from Etobicoke North insist that the finance minister abolish the GST like he promised? Will the backbencher from Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte demand that the Liberals stop breaking their pledge to allow free votes in the House of Commons? Will the two new Quebec ministers realize that a majority of Canadians do not want special distinct society status for Quebec but rather equality of all provinces?
I want to thank the six excellent Reform candidates who capably communicated the Reform platform. I want to thank the thousands of voters who said no to Liberal nonsense and yes to Reform common sense.