Madam Speaker, what is a government that is sinking in the polls faster than the Titanic after hitting an iceberg to do? It can try to get people talking over Christmas dinner. It can come up with some sort of a measure, a PR stunt, a half-baked measure that gives the impression of putting more money in people's pockets. This measure takes the form of a cheque, for workers to be exact, and not for those who are struggling the most.
We are not against giving gifts to workers, but they paid for these gifts themselves with their own taxes. After saying no to increasing health transfers, after saying no to improving the old age pension, in the name of budgetary considerations that have not exactly been the hallmark of this government since it got here, the government comes up with this $4.7-billion half-measure that excludes people like the unemployed, people on welfare, pensioners and even stay-at-home parents.
Does the government not realize that this is only fuelling?