Madam Speaker, the tax burden in Canada during the period 1988 to 1993 actually decreased in terms of income tax due to the replacement of the manufacturers' sales tax. That was developed as a revenue neutral tax reform designed at that time to eliminate a counterproductive, productivity killing tax policy that would have inhibited economic growth.
A witness to the soundness of that policy is the economic growth we have seen, in particular in our export sector since 1993. Forty per cent of our GDP now comes from exports. If the Reform Party member had an opportunity to respond, I would ask him if he would prefer that we tax the manufacturers that are exporting? Would he prefer to see a counterproductive tax that would reduce our economic growth in the export market? I do not believe he would.
I know that most of the recommendations made by the Canadian Tax Foundation and other tax think-tanks would like to see a further shift to a consumption based tax and potentially some changes and adaptations to ensure progressivity in a consumption based tax which would be very important.
If given the opportunity we would like to see significant tax reform now as we saw in the late 1980s and early 1990s under the previous and courageous government of the Progressive Conservatives. Unfortunately, the Liberals are not providing us with the meaningful, broad based tax reform that Canadians need in a competitive environment.
Far from apologizing for the proactive and innovative leadership of that government, I think Canadians, including members of the Reform Party whose leader stated in the House that deficit reduction started back in 1984, should be commending and recognizing the innovation and leadership of that government in providing the foundation for Canadian economic growth in the late 1990s and into the 21st century.