Mr. Speaker, the budget is about choices, but as they say, the devil is often in the details, especially when we start comparing what is in the budget to what was in the election platform.
Compared to the Liberal platform promises, the budget falls short by $230 million for first nations education and by $130 million for first nations child services.
Compared to the Liberal platform promises, the budget falls short by $300 million this year and $200 million next year for seniors.
Compared to the Liberal platform promises, the budget falls short by $170 million for youth.
The budget breaks a fundamental Liberal platform promise to cut taxes for small and medium businesses to 9%. They will be freezing taxes at 10.5%.
If we look at other choices they made, it is clear that they decided to leave one measure intact: the one that allows a tax loophole for stock options, which leaves $800 million in the pockets of the rich.
How can the Liberals justify breaking so many promises to the most vulnerable members of society while letting the rich get off scot-free?