My colleague from Winnipeg asked me what about the 50:50 formula? The federal government puts 50% of extra money into improved services for Canadians and 50% of the money into paying down the national debt and lowering taxes. There was a lopsided proportion where the government put $100 billion into tax cuts over five years. Now it is putting the entire surplus into paying down the national debt and the services that ordinary Canadians need are falling by the wayside.
The last point I would like to make before my 10 minutes runs out and my friend from Winnipeg speaks is that public investment into social programs, such as health and education, into the environment, into infrastructure in Canada and into the farm crisis is good for all Canadians, not just for particular sectors. It strengthens the economy, creates jobs and creates a wealthier economy which gives us more money for social programs in the long run.
An example is the farm crisis where farmers are now suffering because of low commodity prices. The Americans have brought in a farm bill which increases subsidies by tens of billions of dollars; $180 billion over 10 years. What the western grain farmers are now asking for is trade injury legislation to the amount of about $1.3 billion from the federal government. The federal government can afford it. If it put that money into the farm economy, it would create jobs and wealth and would help every Canadian.