Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to stand in my place and speak in support of our government's historic budget for the three minutes that I have.
It has been a very long time since there has been such an agenda of hope for Canadians. I congratulate the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance for their vision and courage. They have presented a balanced budget that significantly cuts taxes, focuses federal spending and pays down debt.
When I get up in the morning and turn on the lights, I pay a tax on the electricity. When I run my shower, I pay a tax on the water. When I brew my coffee, I pay an import tax on the beans. When I get into my car and drive away, I pay a tax on the gas. I pay a tax on the road on which I drive. I pay a recycling tax on the tires. I pay a tax to the street cleaner or a tax to the snow clearer. If I take the bus, I pay a transportation tax. Before I get on my flight to Ottawa, I pay an airport improvement tax. En route to Ottawa, I pay a tax on the jet fuel that the plane is burning. I pay a tax so air traffic controllers keep my aircraft apart from others. When I land in Ottawa, I pay a landing tax. When I check into my hotel, I pay a commercial accommodation tax. When I eat at a hotel restaurant and have a glass of wine, I pay a hospitality tax. If I go to a movie, I pay an entertainment tax. Every single item I buy is taxed. Every April 30 the government takes several more pounds of flesh in the form of income tax. Finally, when I die, my last act after death will be to pay tax.
When we refer to death and taxes it is definitely and ultimately in that order.
Canadians are tired of being overtaxed. That is why our budget has introduced tax relief of over $20 billion in two years, more than the last four federal budgets combined.
On January 23, the Conservative government inherited a 13 year old elephant of overtaxation, procrastination, unaccountable spending and many other impediments to long term progress and prosperity. We cannot eat an elephant like that in one sitting, but this budget has taken one heck of a bite out of the pachyderm's posterior. We know it, Canadians know it and the opposition knows it. That is why Canadians have expressed strong support for the budget. That is why all hon. members in the House should rise in support of the budget.