Mr. Speaker, at the Reform's national assembly this past weekend, Michael Walker, executive director of the Fraser Institute, said to an audience of Reform delegates: "Newfoundland is a morally bankrupt society. They do not even think to ask what I can do to solve my problems. They ask: What can the federal government do to solve my problems for me?".
Not one person challenged Mr. Walker's statement. Instead they applauded.
Let me tell the House that Newfoundland has an enterprising society. Let me further tell the House that since 1990, Newfoundlanders have made the highest contributions per capita to charities in this country.
Reform has the audacity to accuse us of being morally bankrupt. It is Newfoundland that understands what this country is all about. Reformers do not.