Registered Retirement Savings Plan  Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance. This past weekend the minister met with several prominent economists, business people and ordinary Canadians to discuss the issue of deficit reduction. The vast majority of participants believe that the key to deficit reduction is through spending reductions rather than tax increases.

Registered Retirement Savings Plan  Mr. Speaker, last week and again just now the Minister of Finance refused to tell this House that there would be no increase in taxation. Canadians therefore have no choice but to believe that taxes will be increased in this upcoming budget. Will the minister tell the House today whether he plans to raise tax revenues by changing the income tax regulations regarding RRSPs?

Job Training  All of Quebec, beginning with their Premier, is scandalized by the federal government's refusal to begin negotiations on job training before reform of the income security system has been completed. In Quebec, industry, labour and government came to an agreement a long time ago and put the Quebec labour force development agency in charge of managing training, using the same model as the one found in the Liberal Party's red book.

New Zealand  Mr. Speaker, in 1979 I emigrated from New Zealand where the government of the time was immersed in a policy of tax and spend with overgenerous social programs and widespread reliance on welfare. In 1984, as many members will be aware from the "W5" television program, New Zealand experienced a debt crisis.

Firearms  Mr. Speaker, my riding and indeed the whole country have many residents who choose to own and use for competitive or recreational purposes legally owned firearms. Competitive shooting is in fact an Olympic competition that has won many medals for Canada. The previous government passed legislation that severely restricted the legitimate use of firearms without addressing the criminal use of them.

Speech From The Throne  Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has raised a couple of issues. First, he wants to know whether unemployment insurance as it is presently constituted has been a boon or a problem in the country. Certainly the premier of Newfoundland would suggest that as it is presently designed it has not served the interests of Newfoundlanders very well.

Speech From The Throne  I realize it is an important issue, one that you have addressed at considerable length, as did a member of the Reform Party who made some timely comments. I ask the hon. member if he would be prepared to support measures which would enhance the climate conducive to the development of small businesses?

Speech From The Throne  Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question. I believe that what this country is missing as we look and ponder what can be done for small business is the realization of the importance of business initiatives and the increase in jobs that will be stimulated by that. I think one of the biggest business initiatives we could have is to elevate the feeling of the small businessman to that of a hockey player in this country.

Speech From The Throne  Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question. I feel it all relates back to the whole issue of deficit reduction. In order to stimulate the economy and give the entrepreneurs who would create this new employment for Canada we must first address our financial situation in this country which is an immediate reduction in spending by this government.

Speech From The Throne  Mr. Speaker, I wish to applaud the transparent nature of the minister in assigning or trying to determine which Canadian city is going to get this much coveted NAFTA environmental secretariat. After the decision has been made will the selection criteria and the respective bids by the respective cities be made public?

Speech From The Throne  He and I sometimes have different opinions on some issues, but we agree on the need to show leadership when it comes to the environment. The leader of the Reform Party has already said during the election campaign that even when it comes to cutting costs he obviously believes the environmental budget is one that should be kept intact. The hon. member for Yukon represents a region of Canada where good jobs depend on a healthy environment.

Speech From The Throne  Mr. Speaker, following consultations with my colleagues on the government side and in the Reform Party, I would like to ask for unanimous consent to allow the hon. member for Bellechasse to give his speech in response to the Speech from the Throne.

Speech From The Throne  Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his compliments on my election. I am considered the green dot in a sea of red. It was the subject of much media attention to see what this giant killer looked like. They were some shocked when they found I was only five-foot-four. To deal with the question, health care in this country is in grave peril.

Speech From The Throne  Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Kitchener for his question. I do not think I indicated in my speech that solving the problem of representing constituents was an easy one. It is not and there is no member of my party who is confused about that. I feel that what has happened in the past is that governments have responded to the special interest groups.

Speech From The Throne  Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the hon. member for Algoma on his maiden speech in this House, but I feel I must comment and set the record straight on one thing regarding the position of my party on the bottom line. That position on the bottom line, through you Mr. Speaker, to the hon. member is people related.