Mr. Speaker, I want to address a couple of points raised by the member. He talked about disposable income in Canada going down by 9%, but he did not explain to Canadians why disposable income apparently went down. He did not talk about the fact that disposable income means net paycheque and how that has changed.
Let us look at the impact of contributions to RRSPs, reduced taxable income which reduces the tax burden but also shows a lower net pay. The former child exemption was taken out of the tax act and became the child tax benefit and the national child benefit program. Taxes went up but the benefit came from outside. It was similar with the GST rebate and health spending.
If we want to compare ourselves with the U.S. we have to understand that Canadians do not pay for health care. We have a not for profit system whereas in the U.S. it is for profit. U.S. incomes have gone up simply because their cost of health care is going up astronomically relative to what it is in Canada.
The member has made a serious error. He should acknowledge it and explain to the House that he was in error. He said that in 1993 the personal income tax revenue to the federal government was $112 billion. He then went on to refer to more recent numbers, I believe it was 1998, and say that the projection was $150 billion. He also said that was 25% more out of the pockets of Canadians. He did not say that in 1993 the unemployment rate in Canada was 11.2%. Now it is 7.8%. There are 1.5 million more Canadians working and paying taxes. The increase that he attributes to Canadians is not the same Canadians paying more tax; it is more Canadians paying tax.
The member should correct the error or the impression he has left with the House. It is very important to know that personal income tax revenue has increased primarily and exclusively because more Canadians are working.