Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for his question. I would like to point out to him that the government has two priorities: to put our financial house in order and to create jobs.
To answer the question put by my colleague about our financial future, I would say that if he had reviewed the figures in the budget, and I will repeat them because I mentioned them in my speech, he would have obviously noted that the deficit for 1995-96 will decrease to 3 per cent of the gross domestic product and that it will continue to fall. By 1997-98, the deficit will have dropped to 2 per cent and it will continue to diminish until it gets to 0 per cent.
In 1993, the deficit reached $42 billion. By 1997-98, it will have come down to $17 billion. So, it is widely recognized throughout the country that the Minister of Finance is acting responsibly and putting our financial house in order. We are making progress. The figures we have here go to prove it.
In terms of job creation, I think the minister has identified new initiatives with one priority in mind, our youth. It is one of our priorities, our future, the future of our country. In my view, this is our most important natural resource. It is very important that it be identified as one of our priorities. It is the first time that a federal government has made a priority of this very important issue.
The hon. member made some comments about the unemployment insurance program, based, I think, on the act itself, which we are currently amending to help solve the problem he mentioned.