People get upset if I say “lie” or “mislead” or something of that nature, so I cannot say that.
Madam Speaker, take a look at the program. This is a program that was talked about when I was first elected, back in 1988. I remember Sharon Carstairs, leader of the Liberal Party at the time, saying that we have to have a school program to feed children because we cannot expect all children to be able to learn on an empty stomach. We know for a fact that many children who attend public schools are going to school, and they have not had breakfast.
It is something that has been a need for decades. The government proposes it and does a pilot project. We have a new Prime Minister and the commitment that we are making it a national program, and the Conservatives say “absolutely not”. They do not like the program.
They are denying the opportunity of many young people to be able to capture the type of education that will help them in later years. They do not support the many children who go to school on an empty stomach. It is awfully hard to learn something from a teacher when one is hungry.
I used to be the education critic in the province of Manitoba. I understand the importance of the program that we have brought forward, and I am very proud that we have a Prime Minister who is now making it a permanent program. I suspect and hope that there are some progressives left in the Conservative right who will see the true value of the program and ultimately support it.
Do members remember the summer youth program? This is a program that is in every constituency and community across the nation. Again, when the leader of the Conservative Party was around the Conservative caucus, we saw a cut to that program. Not only did they have the highest stat, in 2009, for youth unemployment, but they also cut a valuable program that often contributes to a young person's being able to carry over that summer youth experience into a full-time job.
I would challenge members opposite to look at some of the details that will be coming out in the budget. They will see a number of initiatives, whether it is apprenticeship training, the promotion of the Red Seal program or ongoing support for things like our summer youth program. There are some programs in there to support young people, let alone programs like the food nutrition program or the dental program, which have really benefited young people.
Instead of having healthy debates on these types of issues that Canadians are concerned about and that the government is concerned about, we constantly have the Conservative Party of Canada on the floor wanting to play partisan political games at a great expense. A good example is that, over the last week, we have heard a lot from the government House leader, challenging the Conservatives to make a commitment to Canadians. If there is an election in December, it will be because of the Conservative Party of Canada. That is the reality.
If we are not able to pass legislation, such as bail reform or Bill C-4, which would give a tax break to 22 million Canadians and give that first-time homebuyer a GST rebate, it will be because the Conservative Party of Canada continues to put their own partisan political priorities over the interest of Canadians. I find that very upsetting.
I can tell members that not only my constituents but also, I would suggest, Canadians as a whole want more co-operation on the floor of the House of Commons. This means that if we are going to have debates, we have to recognize that at some point, legislation has to be allowed to go to committee so that it can come back and the debate continues. Ultimately, members need to work in co-operation, as we are, as a government, working in co-operation with opposition members. That is the mandate we were given.
We are going to see a budget come out tomorrow that is going to reflect the needs of Canadians. The budget is going to be a reflection of the times we are in. The Prime Minister often talks about transformative changes that are on our horizon, whether it is on the trade file or the many other economic indicators. This budget is going to assist us, as a nation, to move forward.
One of the stats I really appreciate is the stat on trade, in which 2.5% of world trade is contributed through Canada, yet we have 0.5% of the world population. We are a trading nation, and that is why we see the Prime Minister, different ministers and caucus as a whole looking at trade opportunities that go beyond the United States.
I move:
That this question be now put.