Madam Speaker, I will repeat what I said when responding to the speech from the Throne.
In this budget, taxpayers expected the government to take important measures to get its finances in order and create jobs. Given that 1.4 million people are out of work, the Minister of Finance could have shown a minimum of compassion by introducing job creation initiatives. This is what matters at this point in time.
I am not an expert in the fields of finance and economy, but I do know, like everyone else, that when people have jobs, they pay taxes and that helps the economy. Putting people to work might help reduce the deficit. However, as long as the government keeps trying to cut here and there, particularly at the expense of the poor and of the unemployed who truly need help to find work, it will not succeed in promoting economic recovery.