Taxation  Mr. Speaker, I have one further supplementary question. Thousands of customers, investors and workers involved in the production, distribution and consumption of fossil fuels wish to make direct and effect representation to the government to dissuade it from instituting a carbon tax.

Social Programs  Will the Prime Minister recognize, in spite of the laudable comments of the Minister of Human Resources Development, that the government is preparing to impose its views on the provinces through the extremely powerful medium of the upcoming renegotiation of various transfer programs? Will he concede that his views will prevail in the social program reform process?

Taxation  Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister. Would the Prime Minister tell the House whether he believes his government has a clear mandate from the public to expand the tax base and the total tax bill paid by Canadians?

Fruit Growers  Mr. Speaker, the Okanagan Valley ships apples, pears, peaches and fruit of all kinds around the world. Our producers have become world leaders in the industry and strides forward continue to be made. From January 26 through January 28 the British Columbia Fruit Growers' Association held a major convention in Penticton.

Northern British Columbia Winter Games  Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform Canadians of a very special event that will take place in the Prince George-Peace River riding from February 4 to February 6. I am referring to the 20th annual Northern B.C. Winter Games taking place in the city of Fort St. John. The games provide an opportunity for athletes in the north to compete with one another and form lasting friendships.

Unemployment Insurance  Mr. Speaker, I have been receiving a growing number of letters from constituents regarding unemployment insurance premiums and benefits, one of which reads as follows: As an unemployed person who is required to pay unemployment insurance premiums, I am incensed at the recent government decision to increase premium rates instead of reducing program costs.

Pre-Budget Consultations  Mr. Speaker, our health care system is one of the best things provided by our great country and Canadians attach a great importance to it. Without health, enjoyment of life can be greatly diminished. The protection of our health is dependent upon two major elements: the responsibility that each one of us has to adopt healthy habits, and our national health care program.

Pre-Budget Consultations  This week, the minister of Human Resources announced, in his speech on social programs, a far reaching reform of social security, including of course, unemployment insurance and old age security. Whether you want it or not, when you embark upon negotiations regarding social security, you have to talk about the Constitution since it is an area of exclusive provincial jurisdiction.

Pre-Budget Consultations  I believe that collectively we can. Collectively we can put our minds together and work in the new spirit of parliamentary reform now that the committees are struck, now that we have this debate and now that we have heard from people in our ridings as to what the proper medicine for this country is. Last week my colleagues and I had our pre-budget consultation in London, Ontario.

Pre-Budget Consultations  Mr. Speaker, let me compliment the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance for initiating what I hope will be a new approach to putting Canada's financial house in order. The budget is the most influential of all government documents because it affects the lives of all Canadians more deeply than anything else.

Pre-Budget Consultations  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the member for St. John's West on a fine speech. I note that she said there was a lack of people working and paying taxes and that in this country we have tax consumers and tax producers. She also spoke about the problems with small business. However I find that very little was put forward as proposals to address the problems we have.

Pre-Budget Consultations  However I would like to make you aware that I have a list outstanding of nine speakers consisting of two government members, two members from Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, four members from the Reform Party and one Independent. I would be prepared at 10 p.m. not to see the clock but I would not want to extend today's sitting beyond this list of speakers. If I could add to my suggestion that if you were to forgo the five minutes of questions and comments for the remaining nine speakers for a total of 90 minutes, it would bring us to the end of the day at 10.10 p.m.

Pre-Budget Consultations  Mr. Speaker, my question for the member concerns her comments on RRSP limitations. She spoke in favour of reducing limits for Canadians with above average incomes. Does it also follow that the member believes retired Canadians who have above average incomes should not receive old age security benefits?

Pre-Budget Consultations  He used the words fairness and equity, which are key words in our taxation system. And I also agree with him on that. He talked about the need to reform our tax system, not by targeting the middle class which is the driving force behind the economic recovery and which directly supports the economic cycle, but by increasing the tax base to reach those who do not pay their fair share of taxes.

Pre-Budget Consultations  We would have liked the government to follow through with the request presented by the Bloc Quebecois several months ago, asking it to set up an ad hoc parliamentary committee to carry on an item by item review of federal tax and budget expenditures. The Reform Party, through the member for Calgary North, answering a question I asked her on January 21, and earlier today, through the member for Lethbridge answering a question from my colleague for Saint-Hyacinthe-Bagot, already indicated that it was willing to participate in such a process.