Mr. Speaker, the very same poll from which the member cites asked the question “What do you think should be the federal government's main priority in deciding what to do with any future surplus money?” Reducing accumulated debt, 45%; cutting taxes, 29%; spending more in government programs, 23%. The numbers he was reading were from the 23% who think we ought to spend more.
With respect to Statistics Canada, I simply do not buy the idea that we have a net increase in skilled workers. We have a very high level of immigration, relatively speaking, and many immigrants are quite well skilled.
However many Canadians who have gone through our post-secondary and university education programs are leaving the country. I defy members of the House to stand and say they do not know people or are not related to people with post-secondary education who have left the country for brighter economic opportunities elsewhere.