Mr. Speaker, I thank the parliamentary secretary. I read the article. I know the budget apparently is balanced. I think that is wonderful. That is great. The Prime Minister says that there is a millennium scholarship fund. It is to be a wonderful thing.
Is it not interesting how Liberal logic works? First, they cut the spending for education penalizing all students. Then they come in with a great big millennium scholarship fund which will maybe benefit 6% of students. Is that not interesting?
They take it away from 100% and give it back to 6% and say this is what they have done for the citizens of Canada. What a bunch of misleading logic.
Are there some good things in the budget? Have the Liberals listened? I am glad the hon. parliamentary secretary said that the deficit has been stopped and that they are going to listen. Notice he said that they were going to. They have not done it. They have not demonstrated that in the budget.
The time has come for us to get serious about exactly what we are going to do. When will government pass a law that says there shall be no more deficit spending or that it will be a liability for each MP who voted for going into a deficit position.
We need such a law. We also need to recognize that the people have said that if there is a surplus it should be used to pay down the debt and reduce taxes. We need to get serious about that. We do not need new spending.
We did not hear people ask the government to spend more money. They have asked for taxes to be cut and the debt to be reduced. That is what they said absolutely, unequivocally and very clearly all across the country. The CFIB said it. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce said it. The Chamber of Commerce in Kelowna said it. Ordinary citizens on the street say it. Students in the schools say it. I say it. The official opposition says it. The government should listen.