Madam Speaker, I listened to the hon. member's thoughtful comments.
One can say one cares, as the hon. member does, and he is undoubtedly sincere, but he is a member of a government that showed no compassion, that did not anticipate the impact on people of its cuts to employment insurance and to transfers.
Let us not forget that it is this government that decided to turn funding for education, health and the Canada assistance plan into a single transfer. Once that was done, the government was quick to reduce federal funding from $19 billion in 1994 down to $11.5 billion. The result is that the provinces had to make cuts in health, education and social assistance.
They are now saying “We will allocate money for the poor. We will help the poor”. People are people. How many have found themselves in dire straits? Poverty is not just a question of money, it is a question of despair, of repeated failure, of dignity, or lack of dignity, as was pointed out.
I would appreciate it if the hon. member could comment.