Mr. Speaker, I have an institutional memory. I think that sometimes comes in handy in this place. The member for Fredericton and I had a little discussion on the very topic of the numbers of unemployment last night in Fredericton in terms of New Brunswick's unemployment. I wish the rate of unemployment in my home province and Atlantic Canada were as low as the national average. I do not disagree with that because the economy as we know is very cyclical. What goes up comes down sometimes.
The hon. member is right, the unemployment rate was too high when we left office. Prior to that it was lower. We get to the bottom of the cycle as well in terms of a low number of unemployed. But back in New Brunswick this very day it is very high. It is very high in Atlantic Canada. I wish that we were experiencing the prosperity of southern Ontario. Maybe some day we will, but it will need more attention by this government to achieve those low numbers.