Mr. Speaker, it was interesting that the Speaker had commented about the continual practice of the government making big announcements outside of this place, ironically again in the Charles Lynch Theatre today. There seems to be quite a bit of action down there lately.
Earlier in parliament the Speaker brought forward his concern that this not become a habit of the government to make announcements outside of this place. He said words to the effect early in this parliament that “I want to express my concern that the government is continuously or habitually making important legislative announcements outside of this place”. The announcements of the magnitude that we saw again this morning, which was basically an admission that the forecasting ability of the finance minister was zilch, were made outside the place.
I would agree with the member for Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough that it is time that the ministers came before the House, made their presentations, told the House first and then the rest of the world could follow.