Mr. Speaker, I will say right off that I will not be congratulating the Minister of Finance.
You do not congratulate someone on work others have done, or on efforts others have made. It was the provinces that had to make the cuts in health care, education and income support. It was the provinces and the unemployed that made all the efforts.
When this government took office in 1993, 61% of the unemployed were entitled to unemployment insurance benefits. Now, five years later, fewer than 40% of the unemployed enjoy benefits.
The Minister of Human Resources Development wonders why. He says he will investigate. He is perceptive that one. Very perceptive indeed. If he were at all self-critical, he would very quickly realize why the proportion has dropped so tragically.
When I read the budget I thought it was the work of the Minister of Finance. I was wrong, because it looks increasingly like the Prime Minister's budget. He had his hand in it—