Madam Speaker, since this is my first speech since you became Acting Speaker, I wish to congratulate you on your appointment.
I would like to share my colleague from St. Boniface's optimism regarding the budget. Unfortunately, like all government members, our colleague from St. Boniface merely watched the finance minister's show in this House yesterday and let himself be hypnotized by the minister's oratorical performance.
What government members failed to do is read between the lines; it is one thing to listen to or read the budget speech and quite another to appreciate or analyze the impact of this budget.
I will take the hon. member for St. Boniface's own example, because I want to give him the chance to repent and perhaps correct what he said in this House a few minutes ago-I will take his own example, student assistance. I will get to my question in a minute if you allow me to continue.
Regarding student assistance, the hon. member reminded us that the budget sets aside $375 million over three years for student summer employment. This is a panacea, the find of the century.
The hon. member fails to mention that, as a result of the cuts to the Canada social transfer that were announced last year, which for Quebec alone amounted to $600 million last year and $1.2 billion for the coming year, Quebec's finance minister will probably have to raise tuition fees by a significant amount.
The few additional jobs that will be created for our students-and I am happy for them-will not be enough to compensate for the increase in tuition fees. That is one consequence of this budget.
I could go on for several minutes on this, but I will give the hon. member for St. Boniface a chance to immediately repent in this House in front of all his colleagues. I will get back to this later.