Mr. Speaker, the official opposition is opposed to this motion but for reasons somewhat different than those of my hon. colleague from the Liberal Party.
Essentially the motion states that the purpose of the act is to increase the availability of financing to small business. That is a noble thing and something certainly we in the Reform Party would all like to see because we favour any measures that would assist small businesses.
The point is that this entire approach, an act, a government band-aid solution to a problem, is not the answer. Businesses have a problem in financing their enterprises right now, but the reason is not because of a lack of a government program or an inadequate government program. The reason is much deeper and more far reaching than that. It is because of government mismanagement of the entire economy in general, but specifically because of the high taxes individuals and businesses are subjected to.
For example, the employment insurance premiums are fully one-third over and above the break-even point of the EI fund. That places a great burden on businesses. The average Canadian worker pays $350 a year over and above the break-even point of the EI fund. The average employer pays $500. Per employee, per working Canadian, that is $850 over and above the break-even point of the EI fund. What does the government do with that money? It spends it on programs, useless, meaningless programs, I might add, grants and giveaways to special interest groups, subsidizing things like VIA Rail, CBC and on and on.