Mr. Speaker, last Friday the Older Adults in Action group in my constituency of Markham shared their grave concerns with me regarding the level of the national debt. This group with over 700 members indicated that their number one priority is the paying down of the debt to lessen the burden their children and grandchildren face.
I urge the Liberal government to apply the suggestions received from Canadians. Let us eliminate this debt now by applying the surplus to the debt, stimulating job growth and implementing tax reductions.
An Angus Reid poll released last Saturday indicated that when asked what we should do with budget surpluses, 84% of Canadians favoured either paying down the debt or implementing a tax reduction. The government must commit to balance the budget and stimulate financial growth. This means giving Canadians tax breaks in the form of lower EI deductions to offset proposed hikes in CPP premiums.
We must commit to securing our financial future so that generations are left unburdened.