Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak to Bill C-78, but not because I like it. It is another attack against workers in this country.
One should remember that the federal government took over $20 billion from the employment insurance fund, money which belonged to workers; this year the surplus is expected to grow by another $7 billion.
With the bill before us today, Bill C-78, the government will take another $30 billion from a fund that is just as important. It is significant not only for the public service pension funds. I believe the government has the responsibility to show the way. What it is saying to private companies is “Look. You will now be able to take money from your workers' pension fund”. This is exactly what bill C-78 is doing.
When workers have a collective agreement, when money is set aside for them, I say the federal government has no right stealing their money to balance its budget and have a zero deficit just as I said it had no right stealing workers' money from the employment insurance fund.
Whether they are members of PSAC working in government offices or members of the RCMP, the government has been undermining their morale for years by denying them salary increases, and today by trying to lay its hands on their pension funds.
This is money that was negotiated at the bargaining table and it is money that belongs to workers, not to the Minister of Finance so that he can once again tell us what a fine job he is doing.
The way the Liberal government is going after the workers of this country is unacceptable and immoral. Whether it be EI or public sector pension funds, the money still comes out of workers' pockets.
That is not what the Liberals were saying. I say that it is unacceptable and that Canadians will not stand for it. The government has gone after those who have lost their jobs. Now, it is going after future retirees.
I find this deplorable. The government is completely in the wrong and Canadians will not forget it.