Mr. Speaker, I heard my colleague talk about patronage and how that happened in Atlantic Canada. I have to say that I agree with him.
Having lived on Cape Breton Island all of my life, we have been the epitome of patronage over the course of the last 10 to 15 years. I refer to the Liberal patronage under the auspices of ACOA which we have all come to know and which some love very well. The majority of Atlantic Canadians have no use for ACOA because they have not been politically affiliated with the government to access any money.
Cape Breton Island has had make work projects for a very long time. Under the former ACOA minister we had what I refer to as boardwalks to nowhere which have nothing to do with sustainability or economic development.
Having said that, there have been serious failures on behalf of the Liberal government with respect to commitments to Cape Bretoners and the individuals who have decided to live there. Is the hon. member saying that we should make the decision now that that is not the path we are going to take any more and that we are going to leave them out in the cold?
Some of my constituents are in very desperate situations. I talk to them on a regular basis about their not having money for things such as school supplies. I believe that is the direct result of patronage. There is a saying in Cape Breton Island that it is not what you know but who you know.
It is recognized that that has been the major problem in Atlantic Canada and certainly in my part of the country. We agree that we have to chart a new course in terms of commitment. Would the hon. member agree that we have to be committed right now to dealing with the crisis that is facing Cape Bretoners which has been due to the lack of leadership and commitment, and as the member said, the buying of votes in Atlantic Canada by the government?