Budget Implementation Act, 1994  Mr. Speaker, the Reform Party likes to talk about its steps to reduction plan. As I read the figures, it announced an $18 billion reduction in government expenditures and said that $18 billion would bring the deficit to zero in three years. The deficit we now know is something like $45 billion or $47 billion.

Budget Implementation Act, 1994  Using a figure lower than the one proposed by the finance minister at that time, using a figure that was compatible with the one that the Liberal government is using right now, it was based on a real deficit, not one that was propped with non-recurring factors added to the budget to make it look worse than it really was.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, these petitioners ask for an overhaul of the Canadian tax system. They would like special attention to be given to spouses. Often wives stay at home to raise their family, so that those who have children with special problems, often called handicaped, face significant challenges.

Questions On The Order Paper  Mr. Speaker, I would ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

Committees Of The House  Mr. Speaker, I would also move: That up to 10 members of the Standing Committee on Finance and up to 10 staff be authorized to travel to Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina, Edmonton and Vancouver between April 10 and 16, 1994 and up to 10 members of the said committee and up to 10 staff be authorized to travel to Quebec, Fredericton, Halifax, St.

Committees Of The House  Mr. Speaker, I move: That the fourteenth report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs presented to the House today be concurred in. (Motion agreed to.)

Committees Of The House  Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 13th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. Your committee has considered Bill C-18, an act to suspend the operation of the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act and has agreed to report it without amendment.

Committees Of The House  Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development. Pursuant to the order of reference of February 8, 1994, your committee has considered the modernization and restructuring of Canada's social security system.

Preston And Area Development Fund  Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Recently there has been a lot of controversy over the future of the Preston and area development fund. This fund was established to address the real systemic obstacles to black entrepreneurs in Nova Scotia gaining working capital.

Preston And Area Development Fund  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for his unexpected question. I assure the hon. member his analysis is correct. The fund will lapse on March 31, 1994. Through the efforts of the member himself as well as other community leaders we hope to be able to replace that particular structure and that fund in the foreseeable future in order to provide economic benefits to one of the most depressed areas of the province of Nova Scotia.

Publishing Industry  The minister would rather refer the matter for consideration to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage. However, in this morning's Globe and Mail , we read that the minister's Liberal colleague, the chairman of this committee, has made it clear he does not want to conduct an inquiry into this controversial matter. Does this mean that the Minister of Canadian Heritage suggested referring the matter to the Commons committee, while he knew perfectly well his colleagues would refuse to consider the matter, probably because they also sensed the government had something to hide?

Publishing Industry  Mr. Speaker, the government has absolutely nothing to hide. I am very pleased to see that hon. members on both sides of the House are capable of making up their own minds and making their views known in committee, and I accept their decision.

Publishing Industry  Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Industry. I would like to know what kind of support the government is giving to the publishing industry in Canada. Would the minister also give his impression of this particular support?

National Revenue  Mr. Speaker, the government and I want to acknowledge that the survey makes interesting points that we are taking quite seriously. However we also want to point out that it is a snapshot. It does show changes in attitude over time. Therefore it would be difficult to draw certain conclusions, for example, that Canadians are either more or less disgruntled than at other times.

The Economy  The minister is counting on a low inflation economy and that is not a traditional characteristic of the Liberal government. Can the minister tell the House if he has a strategy to maintain low inflation in Canada if imports begin to drive the inflation rate above 3 per cent?