Madam Speaker, I have a few questions to which I would like answers.
Last night we had votes in the House of Commons, as we often do on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. There was a vote last night on a bill proposing a small tax deduction for volunteer emergency workers. The bill proposed that they would be able to get a small tax deduction for volunteering their time and expertise in a number of different emergency situations, which costs them personally but provides so much value to communities because they get that confidence, they save money and they provide security for people in their homes, at their businesses and on their streets. That vote was lost. It was for a small tax deduction for emergency volunteers. There was not enough money for that.
My first question, and I have two more, is how does the member feel about that? I am disgusted. I find it hard to believe that the government cannot provide that tax deduction when at the same time it can provide major tax relief for businesses and companies. But it does not for individual Canadians. That is reprehensible.
Second, does the hon. member feel that this proposed tax relief would actually lower the price of gasoline for consumers? Would they actually get the benefit of this? We hear from a lot of different so-called economists in this House who say that to provide tax relief will create jobs. More workers will be hired, there will be more investment, it will stimulate the economy and it will also be reflected in the consumer pricing, which everybody can then enjoy. We do not see that. My belief is that we will see a very few people benefit from this, mostly shareholders, many of whom do not even reside in this country.
Third, we know that the Minister of the Environment has a plan for Kyoto. There is a series of things dealing with renewable energy sources. I want to hear the hon. member's perspective. My understanding is that a lot of the money for Kyoto will go to marketing the government's plan as opposed to providing the tools to get those renewable energy sources to consumers, to the people on the streets. My understanding is that significant resources will actually be spent on marketing the government's plan.