World Trade Organization Agreement Implementation Act  All these industries, it would appear to me, are somewhat in decline in the sense that we have to put more value into our products. We have to add more value to them to be more efficient and attract world trade. It is no longer good enough to sell raw logs to China, for instance. We have to fabricate them in our country. Earlier my colleague talked about the grains industry. It is important that we value add in the prairies before they go into the final markets.

World Trade Organization Agreement Implementation Act  The GATT also provides greater protection for the Canadian farmers in that the United States will no longer be able to use existing repressive trade laws and other regulations against imports of Canadian wheat or other agricultural products. This agreement is also good news for the red meat sector of the Saskatchewan economy.

Budgetary Policy  Today, however, that feeling of security has vanished because they are concerned government policies may cut into the savings that many have been keeping for their retirement. In view of galloping inflation, they may think this vehicle is no longer a safe one. Has the hon. member for St. Boniface met people in his constituency who have the same concerns? And how did he respond to those concerns?

Budgetary Policy  Yes, absolutely, the Prime Minister said in the House that social programs needed to be changed because they were created many years ago for conditions which are no longer the same. He also said a few days ago that saving money was not a priority. If we can make savings at the same time, fine. I also said in my speech-and this is why I was surprised to hear my colleague say that he listened carefully to my speech, but had some difficulty with it-, that we should not take money from the most disadvantaged.

Budgetary Policy  This will increase the cost of health care as more people are hospitalized and hospitalized longer. They also thought that cutbacks on health care can lead to increased health care costs in the long run. For example, in funding on education and research for AIDS, every person in which AIDS is prevented by education saves $100,000 in health care costs.

Budgetary Policy  We do believe that type of action will create confidence in the economy, more growth in the economy, more job opportunities and certainly it will be better for Canada as a whole on a longer term.

Budgetary Policy  The prebudget consultations have demonstrated one very important point: that a consensus does exist among Canadians on the need to eliminate the deficit. It is no longer a question of whether, it is a question of how and when. Last week I and one of my colleagues did something unique. We asked to make a presentation to our own committee. In that presentation we laid out a very clear goal to eliminate the deficit over a three year period.

Petitions  In essence the petition making reference to illegal weapons and violent incidents is asking Parliament to strengthen existing gun laws, to implement longer and mandatory sentences for people convicted of crimes involving the use of guns, and finally that the flow of illegal weapons coming into Canada be halted.

Small Business Loans  Speaker, again to facilitate small business access to financing, is it the minister's intention to respect the red book's commitments and see to it that business owners no longer have to post personal bonds in order to be entitled to loans under the Small Businesses Loans Act?

Budgetary Policy  I cannot imagine Toronto business people-who are supposed to be very rational-saying that even though they make money, they no longer wish to do business with Quebec. The Liberals will have to explain to their constituents that it could be a very interesting free trade zone. It is a forward-looking and constructive option.

Budgetary Policy  Suddenly they are told that their aid will be cut and that their students will have to go into debt. The government can no longer afford it. Students will have to go into debt. In addition to having to bear an incredible tax burden in the coming years, they will have to go into debt personally to pay for their own education.

Budgetary Policy  I believe passionately that we will not achieve the growth that we must achieve if we are going to meet these targeted numbers unless we reform the tax system. The current tax system is no longer trusted by business or by the average person in terms of the personal side. Look on the business side right now. There are 37,000 tax cases before the courts with a burden on the justice system because of the tax act challenges coming from business.

Budgetary Policy  The vision of the Reform Party in terms of its responsibility to the country is to get the government off the backs of Canadians and once and for all straighten out the situation so that it is no longer grabbing, grabbing and grabbing capital from a very weak and anemic capital market. It is absolutely accurate and correct to say that taxation is simply the confiscation of working capital; that is all it is.

Budgetary Policy  It is unacceptable to cut into the unemployment insurance fund, to which the federal government no longer contributes, and to use the savings they made this year to reduce the deficit. It is a way for the Minister of Finance to improve his image, to look like a good manager, even though he did nothing to bring public finances back under control.

Divorce Act  The bill would amend the Divorce Act to provide for a person to be granted custody of or access to any of his or her grandchildren. By virtue of this change, grandparents would no longer be required to obtain leave of the court to make such an application. Furthermore, this bill would give grandparents the right to be given information as to the health, education and welfare of the child.