Mr. Speaker, I always enjoy having the opportunity to speak in the House on this bill. It was the first or second small business bill that I ever spoke on when I was in opposition.
When I was a member of the opposition it was the first time that our party supported the Conservative government's amendments to the Small Business Loans Act. Support was unanimous at that time and we put the bill through the House in a day. When I listen to the Reform Party saying it is not supporting this bill, I am absolutely mystified.
A Reform Party member said in his speech concerning the realm of taxes that taxes are so repressive in this country. That is the issue. On that point I support the member. If the Reform Party had any consistency or any real commitment to some of its core public policy thoughts it would help create a real debate on the issue of tax reform. It has been the most inconsistent, on again, off again attempt to try to advance the debate on tax reform that I have ever seen in the House. To try to weave something to do with tax reform into a small business act is a non-starter.
Eighty per cent of the new jobs created today come from small business men and women. This is the entrepreneurial energy, this is the realm where we get people rolling up their sleeves and doing a hard, honest day's work. This is not the realm of paper pushing. This is not the realm of speculating on our dollar. This is the small business realm which is carrying the country right now. Any attempt to reinforce the small business realm has to be supported.
I am happy to see the Bloc Quebecois, the Conservatives and the NDP member for Kamloops, who is responsible for building linkage with the business community, supporting this program; everybody in the House but the Reform Party.
The Liberal Party founded this legislation some 26 years ago under the leadership of Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. We are happy to continue to be the warriors for small business.