Madam Speaker, we know there will be an increase so the fund will be built up, because our young people will not be able, because of their numbers, to build up the pension fund.
This represents a total lack of sensitivity toward those who contributed significantly to reducing the deficit. We thought there might be some sensitivity. This government does a lot of studies that produce nothing concrete to help people earning less than $30,000 or $40,000.
This budget is very disappointing. In addition to going after provincial jurisdictions, the government goes after the low income earners, those who are entitled to expect something, those who have contributed are the ones affected. The middle class contributed enormously to the deficit. They are being crushed under the weight of taxes. They are losing manoeuvring room in order to help the economy.
This government is attuned to the rich, the three wealthy provinces that will benefit from the budget and the class of individuals earning above $100,000. Anyone earning $100,000 and paying perhaps $3,000 in taxes is not going to be prevented from buying the essentials.
However, someone earning $30,000 with two or three children can often use the few hundred dollars they get from a tax break to make ends meet at the end of the month or on weekends to buy what they need to feed, house and clothe their children.