Madam Speaker, I do not know why the Minister of Human Resources Development is so intent on interrupting my speech, but I can say that we conducted a regional tour on the impact of the new EI reform. Many unemployed workers have been overlooked in the new budget's strategy.
The entire middle class has been taxed so heavily that it deserved a break. Yet, in 1993, the Prime Minister was proudly dragging his infamous red book around and telling anyone who would listen that his government would not cut payments to individuals or to the provinces. It is there in black and white. A few months later, the Minister of Finance set the record straight and said that the next budget would contain deep cuts in funding to the provinces for health, social assistance and education. I am not making this up. This is what he said during an interview he gave the Toronto Star .
It is sad how this Minister of Finance juggles the figures and makes a mockery of transparency. I could give many examples.