Mr. Speaker, I am duty bound to point out that the Conservatives supported the huge hike in CPP premiums in Bill C-2.
In the 1995, 1996 and 1997 budgets the finance minister claimed that the $3 billion contingency fund would not be used for new spending. That is what he said. He said “The contingency reserve is not a source of funding for new policy initiatives”.
In yesterday's budget the minister reneged on that promise and blew the entire contingency fund on new spending. Why should we believe the minister's word today when he already—