Mr. Speaker, during his remarks the hon. member criticized the Ontario government for its brutal cuts. How dare the member? The hypocrisy is overwhelming.
The member stood up in this place and voted to cut transfers to the province of Ontario from $7.6 billion in 1994 to $5.8 billion in 1996. For his constituents there was a $1.8 billion cut in net cash transfers for health care and education in Ontario, a 24% cut. And he has the gall to criticize Mike Harris for increasing health care spending by $100 million, for absorbing the $1.8 billion cut but still finding the resources to increase health care spending by $100 million, all the while increasing provincial revenues from income tax by $2 billion even after his tax cuts are taken into account. Mike Harris cut taxes, absorbed your transfer cuts and increased health care, Mr. Speaker. How could the member possibly criticize Mike Harris for cutting when he voted to cut health care for his constituents?