Mr. Speaker, I am sharing my time with the member for Waterloo—Wellington.
This is a very intense debate and I am very honoured to enter into it and to offer my congratulations to the government on what I consider to be another tremendous budget.
This budget offers all Canadians a high standard of living and again makes Canada a better place in which to live.
Our obligations as members of Canada's parliament are to ensure that Canadians receive what they put into their country and to ensure that we give Canadians the support they need to build a strong and prosperous nation.
Our strategy of building a stronger and more prosperous Canada takes action on three fronts, maintaining sound economic and financial management, investing in key economic and social priorities, and providing tax relief and improving tax fairness.
These fronts mesh together to improve Canada's standard of living and quality of life. I would like to take a look at each of these three fronts to see how they affect Canada as a nation but Prince Edward Island also.
If one looks at the present fiscal situation it is apparent that we as Canadians are living in a very unique time, a time in which economic and financial management of the nation is once again a possibility, a time in which the light at the end of the tunnel is a reality.
The 1998-99 fiscal year is the second consecutive year in which the budget has been deficit free. The last time this occurred was almost half a century ago. Program spending as a share of GDP will decline from 12.6% to 12% in 2000-01. This also is the lowest in almost 50 years.
The federal government will post a financial surplus for the third consecutive year, the only G-7 country to do so.
The financial position of the territories and the provinces has also improved. The maintenance of a sound economy is something to be very proud of, something this Liberal government has done in a timely and efficient manner, in a manner of effective and responsible government.
This government has not forgotten the fundamental principle that has guided Canada through the 20th century, the fundamental principle of fairness and social responsibility. This is a government that recognizes the importance of health care, a government that recognizes the burdens that taxes place on us, a government that recognizes the importance of investing in knowledge and innovation so that we are fortified as we enter the new millennium.
This budget is proof that our government has recognized the importance of knowledge and the development of a dynamic business sector and workforce. An innovative and dynamic business sector and workforce are essential for success in today's knowledge based economy and we have recognized this through increased support to the Canadian opportunities strategy. This strategy supports employment through creation, dissemination and commercialization of Canadian knowledge.
Economic and social priorities seem to concentrate on one entity, employment. Creating permanent and prosperous jobs for Canadians is a key economic and social priority and this is no surprise. Without a strong economy we do not have a strong society and vice versa. We must invest in both sides of this relationship. That is what our government has done. We have given our economy a boost as well as giving Canadians a boost.
It does little good for us to educate Canadians, give them the life investments they need and not supply them with the proper innovative environments to put these skills to work. To stimulate the creation of jobs in our workforce through the careless allocation of money is not a solution. What good government must do is create an environment where innovation and the promotion of knowledge can flourish. Investments in knowledge and innovation are key to improving our productivity performance and increasing our standard of living.
This in turn creates a highly trained workforce that can stand the test of the new millennium. This is what our government is doing when it builds on the existing Canadian opportunities strategy.
Our government is taking measures to create knowledge, creating knowledge through increased funding for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council for advanced research in graduate studies.
We have also made money available to the National Research Council to invest in leading edge equipment. This money will be available this year and for the next three years. Without cutting edge equipment, our national research will suffer and in turn affect employment. Jobs depend on research.
Not only must we take measures to create knowledge but we must also disseminate this knowledge so Canadians can use it. The Internet and its ability to transfer information to vast numbers makes it a natural choice for keeping Canadians abreast of up to the minute information.
This government plans to make information and knowledge infrastructure accessible to all Canadians by the year 2000. This will make Canada the most connected country in the world.
This budget will make for the investment of $60 million over three years to establish a smart community demonstration project in each province and territory. These projects use information and communication technology to support economic development and enrich community life. Several aspects of society will be fortified with speedy information channels for sharing and mass dissemination of valuable knowledge.
These initiatives support innovation by creating a network where industry can reach out to potential partners, where small business can network with large business and where students can learn more about business innovation in Canada.
Not only must we help stimulate ideas and innovation, we must also connect ideas with our markets. Innovation is the driving force behind increased productivity and improved standards of living. It is the commercialization of innovation and knowledge that results in the creation of new products, new markets and new processes that will lead to economic growth and the generation of job opportunities.
This budget supports the commercialization of knowledge and innovation. Our government designates money for the investment in partnerships with the private sector to help firms commercialize new technology. That is where research and investment comes to the main street of Canada, where our commitment to the creation of economic stability through innovation meets the average Canadian. This is where investment in knowledge bears its fruit.
This budget also supports the development of innovative projects that support alternate energy development. For example, in my home province of Prince Edward Island our government is continuing to provide funding for the Atlantic wind test site. This site contributes to the development of wind energy technology and illustrates this government's commitment to the diversification of the Atlantic economy.
Now to deal with health care. This is very important to Canadians and to this government. There is $11.5 billion specifically for health care over the next five years. This is a lot of money. As a matter of fact, it is the largest single new investment this government has made.
For my province of Prince Edward Island this government has committed an estimated $51 million over the next five years, an average of over $10 million a year. This amount is substantial. It will clearly have positive effects for the people of my riding and the people of my province.
This government is also investing in health information systems and health research. Information systems improvements will enable Canadians to make more informed choices about their own health, improve decision making by those in health care roles and allow for the public to hold these people more accountable. It is a win-win situation. Here is how we are doing it.
Through the Canadian health network, our government is improving health information channels by giving millions to increase public access to health information. The government is giving $95 million to the Canadian Institute for Health Information to strengthen its capacity to report on the health of Canadians and the functioning of the Canadian health care system.
The Department of Health will be given major financial support so that it may report on the performance of federal health programs in a more effective manner.
Not only are we giving considerable support to health care information systems but we have also strengthened our health related research. Over the remainder of the fiscal year and over the next three years our government will commit a half billion dollars to health related research. This is a considerable amount and I think it will clearly have a visible effect on the type of health care this country experiences in the next century.
Health care research and innovation is traditionally focused on the scientific aspect of health care. This budget provides $25 million to develop solutions to challenges facing nursing in the next decade. It is thoughtful of our government to look at the problems associated with the profession of nursing. This profession is facing some serious challenges in the next decade and this government had the foresight to fund research to prevent a potential health catastrophe, a lack of nurses.
This is where our government differs from past governments. We care about all these things and we are doing something about it. Clearly this budget is providing substantial gains for Canadians, health care, job creation through our knowledge investment and tax relief for all Canadians.
It does not get much better than this. The people of Prince Edward Island and all Canadians can celebrate this Liberal government's budget, a budget for all Canadians.