Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to be in this hallowed House participating in this debate.
It is rather interesting to note that the party opposite has a void in its argument on the Canada pension plan debate and it was evinced by their void in not being here for the democratic vote. Hopefully we will not be indulging in this vituperative political rhetoric but I guess they will persist. It reminds me of last night when I left this hallowed Chamber and thought of the viciousness of their attack. It made me think that this is the last refuge for the vaguely talented on the opposite side.
Having said this I notice that one of their main points of contention in the debate is that this is a payroll tax. That is utter rubbish and nonsense. It is a pension plan. It is a contribution to a pension plan. It is not in any way shape or form a payroll tax.
We do have an employment insurance tax but we are doing everything we possibly can, and have done so since we were elected, to reduce the employment insurance tax not once, not twice but thrice. We will continue to reduce the employment insurance tax whenever we have the opportunity and the fiscal responsibility to do so.
One thing that we will not reduce is our commitment to Bill C-2. Why? Because this has not been a cursory commitment. This has not been a commitment just in the last week, the last month, the last year or the last five years. This has been a commitment for about 40 years. One of the great icons of Canadian political history and it certainly endeared myself to him to know that he was also one of the great icons of the Liberal Party, the late Paul Martin Sr., was part and parcel of the genesis of this wonderful bill.
It is rather remarkable to know that a very close relative of Paul Martin Sr., our current finance minister, continues that strong legacy. I am sure that Paul Martin Sr., being up in the hallowed house in the celestial heavens with the other saints of political history such as Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Mackenzie King and Lester Pearson, would be smiling broadly knowing that his legacy has lasted with the truly great finance minister in this Liberal Party.
I notice that members of the Reform Party used an acronym, CPP. We know it stands for Canada pension plan, but they cared to indulge in some kind of fanatical rhetoric. I do not remember it because it is not worthwhile remembering what that acronym stood for. I would say to hon. members that perhaps CPP stands for a commitment to Paul's plan. We are committed to the duty of government and we most certainly recognize the fact that the challenge of any government is to build a road for its citizens that will lead to a sense of self-satisfaction, a sense of self-esteem and a sense of fulfilment.
This coruscating Bill C-2 most certainly rises to that challenge. May I even be so bold as to say that this is a bodacious bill. Hon. members can look up that word.
I notice I have one minute left, Mr. Speaker. One further minute to expound upon the great magnanimous qualities of Bill C-2. This bill not only rises to the challenge, it supersedes it. It eclipses the challenge not only for today, not only for tomorrow, but for weeks and possibly decades to come.