Debates of May 1st, 2007

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, that is hilarious and you do not have to take my word for it. I suppose the premiers do not understand the budget process either, because the premier of Newfoundland and Labrador had this to say the day after the budget:

The Prime Minister...came to our province...and he made a promise...that natural resource revenues would be removed from the equalization formula.... Yesterday, [the day after the budget] [the Prime Minister] told the people of Newfoundland and Labrador...that his promises...do not count.

Here is another promise. The government claims to be tough on crime. It promised 2,500 new police officers to municipalities across Canada. When they complained that there was nothing in the budget, the national security minister told them to go to the provinces, the same provinces that have been shortchanged.

The minister's response to the real needs of communities reminds me of Marie Antoinette's infamous response to the people of Paris when they were begging for bread, “Let them eat cake”. It was that same kind of shrug, that insensitive answer that the Minister of Finance gave to my serious question.

When will the government turn off the smoke machine, turn down the carousel music and the laugh track--

[The Deputy Speaker, NDP, Bill Blaikie]

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance.

[Diane Ablonczy, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I would urge my friend opposite to consult with the people of her province about this budget, people like the chief executive officer for the Olympic organizing committee, who praised the budget and said it was a great reminder of how the Government of Canada along with the province of British Columbia are working together to guarantee Canadian athletes the support they need.

She should listen to the president of the Mining Association of Canada who called the budget “a huge boost to British Columbia”.

Maybe she should read the Vancouver Sun, her own local newspaper, which heralded the budget and said, “it clearly has principles and a vision”.

This is a tremendous budget for British Columbia. It is a tremendous budget for all the provinces. It is a tremendous budget even for the chronic perennial naysayers. I believe the member opposite will have a very difficult time explaining to her constituents and to herself why she intends to vote against such a good budget for her province and for this country.

[The Deputy Speaker, NDP, Bill Blaikie]

It being 6:07 p.m., this House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 2 p.m. pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 6:07 p.m.)