Mr. Speaker, I certainly agree with the hon. member that productivity is of central importance in the longer term to rising living standards in the country, but I cannot understand why he says that we have not addressed the issue.
Let me give the member four very quick examples. First, we have reduced the corporate tax rate and in three years it will be significantly lower than the U.S. That is good for productivity.
Second, we have had the biggest personal income tax cut in Canadian history, including the elimination of the surtax. That is good for productivity.
Third, we have slashed capital gains by 50% . That is good for productivity and the economy in general, and especially in the new economy where we have piled billions of dollars into university research and research chairs.
Fourth, we have set a target to put ourselves in the top five countries in the world in terms of research and development. That is good for productivity.
Therefore there are no grounds to say that we have been ignoring the need for higher productivity.