Pre-Budget Consultations  Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question. It highlights a number of points without going to great lengths in order to permit other questions. In his second question he is talking about harmonization. As we look at the overlap occurring in government we are presented with an excellent opportunity to start to harmonize the tax system, harmonize the regulations, harmonize in a number of areas.

Pre-Budget Consultations  Mr. Speaker, it is always a pleasure to rise in the House and be given an opportunity to expound on one's views. This is a particularly unique circumstance to have an opportunity to talk about the budget and the process in advance of the budget. Usually we were taken by surprise and then had to react afterwards.

Speech From The Throne  I want to bring the attention of the House to a matter of great concern for the people who live in B.C.'s beautiful Fraser Valley. Most Canadians can take satisfaction in the successful conclusion of the recent GATT agreement. The Reform Party believes that much of Canada's future prosperity is dependent upon the security of our export markets.

Speech From The Throne  Ask him to withdraw. That is shameful.

Speech From The Throne  Citizens must demand less or we will continue to see bankruptcies, job losses and potentially the total disintegration of B.C.'s export coal industry. The problem is not confined to the East Kootenay area. The coal must move from the mines in my constituency to port. We have a world class facility with our transportation services to the coast.

Standing Orders  By striking out sections (2), (3) and (4) thereof and substituting the following therefor: (2) The standing committees which shall consist of not less than seven and not more than fifteen members, and for which lists of members are to be prepared, except as provided in section (1) of the Standing Order, shall be on: (a) Agriculture and Agri-Food (b) Canadian Heritage (c) Citizenship and Immigration (d) Environment and Sustainable Development (e) Finance (f) Fisheries and Oceans (g) Foreign Affairs and International Trade (h) Government Operations (i) Health (j) Human Resources Development (k) Human Rights and the Status of the Disabled (l) Indian Affairs and Northern Development (m) Industry (n) Justice and Legal Affairs (o) National Defence and Veterans Affairs (p) Natural Resources (q) Procedure and House Affairs (r) Public Accounts (s) Transport (3) The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs shall also prepare and report lists of members to act for the House on the standing joint committees on: (a) the Library of Parliament (b) Official Languages (c) Scrutiny of Regulations; Provided that a sufficient number of members shall be appointed so as to keep the same proportion therein as between the memberships of both Houses

Speech From The Throne  It gets money into the economy at the local level and gets it there quickly. We are talking about putting people back to work. When I was preparing for my earlier S. O. 31 statement today on literacy I was reminded of how many of our adult population have difficulty functioning in our modern society because they cannot read. I just beamed with pride when our government's commitment to literacy, not only in the red book and not only by the appointment of a minister responsible for literacy, was given major mention in the throne speech.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, it is a pleasure to introduce a petition from the workers at Base Moncton who are petitioning the government to maintain the depot facilities that are there.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, second, it is my obligation to introduce certain petitions pursuant to Standing Order 36 dealing with language and referendums.

Speech From The Throne  We cannot forget that the federal government was the first one to open wide the gates in the early 1980's, leading to this spiralling public debt. As we all know, on March 31, 1994, the net debt will reach $507 billion whereas the combined debt of all the provinces will be less than $170 billion.

Harjit S. Sajjan Liberal MP for Vancouver South (B.C.)

George S. Rideout was Liberal MP for Moncton (New Brunswick) until 1997

Pierre Pettigrew was Liberal MP for Papineau (Québec) until 2005

George Baker was Liberal MP for Gander—Grand Falls (Newfoundland & Labrador) until 2004