Mr. Speaker, it seems that our finance minister, who was a central figure in the Mike Harris-Ernie Eves cabinet, is bringing back some of those old accounting gimmicks. I am talking about the alleged balance budget that turned out to be a $5.7 billion deficit.
Only a Conservative thinks a $5.7 billion deficit is a balanced budget. How do the Conservatives do it?
First, they promised to make program cuts, quickly spent the savings but then never cut anything at all. Today the government has done exactly the same thing to the tune of $2 billion.
Second, they announced the sale of crown assets, spent the money, but forgot to sell the assets. Today we hear that the government plans to sell $7 billion in federal buildings.
I hope this Mike Harris holdover will do a better job for the people of Canada than he did for the people of Ontario.