Madam Speaker, with deference to my friends across the way I know that what I am saying is exciting, produces adrenalin and engenders a reaction.
We have ended 28 years of deficits in Canada. The last five budgets have been balanced budgets. We have been able to pay down debt that was accumulating at an horrendous rate before the Liberal government took over. While we have a lot to do and will always have a lot to do whatever government is in power, we have accomplished major improvements in the way the government is run.
I was concerned, though, when I heard the leader of the reform alliance talk about some of the elements that really express the view of the reform alliance. It allows me to say how lucky we are as Canadians. He talked about military spending. He obviously has not looked back at the history of the military in Canada.
Between wars Canada's military always shrunk to a corps of highly trained, elite people who could then receive the mass of volunteers who came on every time there was a conflict. It is interesting that a similar thing is happening today with the amount of recruitment taking place in the military. The military stays as a corps between wars but when we are faced with conflict Canadians respond. They respond as volunteers. We have historically not maintained a large standing army. That has not been the history of the country but now we are responding.
Another thing that concerns me about the view of the military is that in this conflict there seems to be an attitude on the part of the reform alliance that the only conflict is military conflict. It is bomb and shoot. What we are faced with at the present time will be more intelligence gathering, providing of security at borders and so on. That is where the bulk of the new money is being spent so Canadians can be safe over the long term.
Victory over terrorism will not be a military victory. There will be no victory day. Our challenge is to make terrorism in the world impotent. It is not just military. The military is a major tool but it is not the only tool we will use.
The hon. leader of the reform alliance also referred to the tax for air safety, the $24 return fee flyers will pay. I am a bit confused by the reform alliance's position in this regard. It seems to have moved away from its historic position on user pay.
I am not sure what percentage of Canadians fly, but if I buy an aircraft ticket I feel comfortable paying that $24. I do not think I should impose a share of it on someone who seldom or never flies or who takes the train or drives a car. Is that fair?
The member suggested we talk to some of our constituents. I have done that already. The $24 imposition for security in the air is generally accepted in the riding I have the honour to serve. Perhaps the hon. member should go back and talk to his constituents over the Christmas season. He will probably get an idea of exactly how they feel.
It is the function of the official opposition to criticize where criticism is due. The government accepts that. Today in the member's speech there was a rather chicken little approach of the sky is falling to virtually everything the reform alliance is critical about. It is a function of opposition to cherry-pick issues. It is also a function of opposition not to give credit where credit is due. We can accept that.
Overall this has been a balanced and fair budget. As members read the budget they will see that we have gone on to areas of endeavour other than just security. That means the government is not giving in to terrorism. We will not throw up our hands in defeat. We are getting on with business as usual.
This year and next year the country will continue to function the way it did before: free of deficit. We will be able to move into new areas of endeavour. That is the function of a forward looking Liberal government.
I was particularly pleased there was something left in the budget for environmental enhancement and supporting the development of renewable energy. It is encouraging that we have started down this road. I hope that in my tenure as a member of the House it will become a major thrust of the Government of Canada.