Mr. Speaker, the fact is that in our budget we dropped taxes by $2 billion over three years. We did it directly to help those Canadians who need the help.
We should understand that the debate between the Reform Party and ourselves is not over a desire to reduce taxes. Every single Canadian in this country, including every member of this caucus and this government, wants to reduce taxes. The issue is when and under what circumstances and at what cost.
Let us understand what Reform would do to reduce taxes. In order to reduce taxes and justify its tax cut, Reform will cut old age pensions by $5 billion. That is the difference between Reform's projections in its original budget and the projections it is making today. Reform members will cut equalization payments by $3 billion and will cut all kinds of people off in the seven receiving provinces. Reform has essentially said that it will cut the Canadian health and social transfer by $3.5 billion in order to justify its tax cuts.
In other words, the tax cut Reform is offering is a tax cut for the rich and it will eviscerate the programs that help the poor and the middle class in this country. We will not do that.