I began my remarks by saying that the 17% flat tax proposed by the reform party, or the Alliance Party, would favour the wealthy people of the country, people who make $300,000 to $600,000 a year or more. I said that indicative of that of course was a fundraiser by Tom Long. Maybe I have to repeat that. An invitation was sent out inviting people to a fundraiser at a cottage in the Muskokas where they could eat some caviar and sip champagne. The cost was $5,000 a head. I am sure a lot of people sitting in the House, who are members of parliament from the Alliance Party, could not go.
I do not think my friend from Vancouver could afford $5,000 for an evening with Tom Long. I do not know if my friend over there from Elk Island could afford $5,000 for an afternoon with Tom Long, but that is now what the party is targeting. It is targeting the wealthy people in the country which is why it is proposing tax reform in Canada.
A flat tax of 17% would see a major reduction for the wealthy, a major reduction for the privileged and more taxes for the ordinary citizen, the ordinary middle class working family, and of course major cutbacks in government services such as health care and education. People should be fully aware of what the new Alliance Party stands for. That is the kind of tax reform we do not want at all.
I want to turn my attention to some of the reasons why the bill was brought in today. It was to amend—