Madam Speaker, first I would like to congratulate the hon. member on a heartfelt speech, one that raises some very interesting points about the direction in which our country is going.
I was also very pleased to find out that the hon. member believes that now is the time to engage in serious debate about which direction we are going to take.
Madam Speaker, I want to bring to your attention, since the hon. member is a new member in this House, that the Liberal government has used the consultation method, including prebudget consultation meetings, as well as a number of meetings across the country on social security review to modernize and restructure Canada's social security system. We have made headway and positive change has occurred.
I want to ask the hon. member if his method of representing his constituents will be to hold townhall meetings? For example, we know that in the very near future we will be consulting across the country on the next budget.
Does the hon. member believe that every member of Parliament should participate in that process? We are in a very fortunate position in this country today, as a result of the measures and the fiscal responsibility exercised by this government, to begin to look at new ways and new programs and perhaps a new style of economics since we may in fact be heading for the first time in a long time toward the elimination of the deficit. Does the hon. member think it is the responsibility of members of Parliament on both sides to seek public input on this prebudget consultation period and to hear from him where his constituents would like to see our government go.