Mr. Speaker, the finance minister's history speaks for itself no matter what he tries to say.
Poverty is a national problem. The Conservatives have refused to take leadership in the fight against poverty, preferring a laissez-faire, I do not care attitude.
The Liberal Party has a plan. Quebec and Newfoundland have plans in place and Ontario will implement one this year.
Do the Conservatives have a plan to fight poverty, or is it the minister's typical old plan, which is to cut programs for the poor, jail the homeless, slash child care and swipe another $5 billion from the aboriginal community?