Mr. Speaker, according to the 1997-1998 supplementary estimates, ACOA will receive an extra $22 million for government handouts. That is in addition to the pre-existing $250 million for government handouts.
Last month former Liberal premier Frank McKenna stated that the answer to the Atlantic problem is not more government handouts but tax cuts for business. And the next day the prime minister agreed by saying that the problem cannot be solved by sending money. So why now the extra $22 million in government handouts?
Has the prime minister simply had a change of heart or is he trying to buy his way back into the hearts of maritimers?