Mr. Speaker, last week the Minister of Finance announced the tabling of the 1997 budget on February 18. I suspect this budget will be delivered in the same balanced fashion as the first three budgets of this government: balanced in order to protect the social programs respected by all Canadians yet building economic growth and jobs for Canadians while meeting the financial goals and obligations that will allow Canada to continue as a leader among the G-7 industrialized nations.
Today, Canadians are proud of bringing our financial house to order and no longer being referred to as a financial third world country, but instead being known as a world leader for building economic growth and creating over 700,000 new jobs for Canadians.
I am certain that once again the 1997 budget will focus on economic growth and jobs, the protection of our social programs and keeping our financial house in order.