Mr. Speaker, I have a series of questions for my colleague.
First, with respect to the additional spending he mentioned in certain areas that obviously could use that kind of assistance, does he have any indication of the costs involved? He mentioned a number of proposals.
Second, with regard to reductions in certain tax measures, how much would that cost the federal treasury? If we were to look at both the expenditure levels and the dollars lost in terms of the adjustments to some programs that he suggested, could he put them in the current framework of the deficit and the debt?
I also have two very brief questions with respect to his intention to have banks invest some of their profits. Has he, his party or anyone else done an analysis of how much money is involved, what it would produce in actual tangible results and what impacts there might be on the operations of banks?
For example, might they need to or feel they need to do something in terms of reduction of employees?
I have a final question. Are there lessons to be learned from the New Democratic governments in power today? I do not say that facetiously or tongue in cheek. For example, in British Columbia and Saskatchewan, unless I am badly informed and I do not think that is the case, there are opportunities in terms of some proposals made by my colleague that have not been followed up.
Perhaps he would answer those questions.