Mr. Speaker, I am certain many members in this place know full well that the “Ottawa knows best” attitude is one that many Canadians find offensive. Those within the Ottawa bubble should never forget that they earn wages in many cases well above the Canadian average, with fully funded pensions and benefit plans that many Canadians could only dream of, and yet average Canadians pay the bills for this Ottawa entitlement.
Let us never forget the private sector is what pays for the public sector. I mention this because on a recent Kelowna Chamber of Commerce survey, over 80% of small businesses said that the Liberal government's proposed tax grab will impact their small businesses, and all we hear in response from the Minister of Finance is that Ottawa knows better than these small business owners how a tax increase will impact them and their families and their small businesses.
They are not the wealthy Bay Street tycoons, as the finance minister likes to claim they are. I would urge the finance minister stop using this inaccurate talking-point rhetoric, slow down, and extend the consultation period so he can actually hear what small business owners are telling him.