Mr. Speaker, the government is the only party in this House not to recognize poverty as an emergency.
My question is for the prime minister. Until recently, Canada had always shown great compassion for the underprivileged. But with the reduction in transfer payments to the provinces and the tightening up of requirements for employment insurance, there is an increasing number of poor people.
Should the government not be turning once again to basic needs, to what must be done to find clothing, food and shelter for the poorest Canadians? When will the government support the organizations that are trying to deal with these urgent needs?