The Budget  I regret it because we are dealing with very serious matters. As the budget clearly outlined yesterday, we have clear plans and initiatives on social reform. There will be major legislation this fall on unemployment insurance. We established a new human resources investment fund in yesterday's budget that will give us the flexibility to begin initiating now many of the reforms that were proposed.

The Budget  Speaker, it is not a question of putting off the discussions. We are willing to initiate them tomorrow if the provinces are ready. This is quite clear. In fact, we said so during our meeting with the finance ministers. I invited the provincial finance ministers to join me immediately after the budget speech, and I am ready to meet them anytime they want.

The Budget  In this House we wasted the fiscal year 1994-95 by a do nothing budget. This budget is not much better when we clear away some of the rhetoric that we heard. Do we know what the real expenditure reductions are-$4.1 billion of expenditure reduction. It is heralding it as a great success. By the time we reach the conclusion of this Parliament or the fiscal year 1996-97, that is not much of a start in dealing with the deficit.

The Budget  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak to the budget. Our position is very clear. International markets have reacted favourably to this budget. Of course, the Reform Party feels that the cuts do not go deep enough. They wanted the government to slash more deeply. We remember the so-called budget they tabled a few days ago-I say so-called budget because it did not generate any positive comments.

The Budget  What will happen to standards? The budget makes several mentions to such standards, but they are not very clear. I wonder if the hon. member could give us his own view on that issue. In his speech, the Minister of Finance said, and I quote: "Provinces will now be able to design more innovative social programs- programs that respond to the needs of people today rather than to inflexible rules".

The Budget  Moody's has the federal government's rating under review because of the size of the debt in the mid-term and the government's lack of control over the situation. The decision Quebecers must make is becoming increasingly clear, and became even clearer yesterday. Staying within the federal fold in the years to come pretty much boils down to this: fewer and fewer federal services and benefits; more and more offloading of deficit problems onto the provinces, which will ultimately result in tax hikes, because it is the same taxpayer; more bad news year after year; a reduction in the Quebec government's ability to do something about job creation, to put in place a plan to revitalize the economy, bring about more jobs and growth in all regions of Quebec, because we do not know what will hit us next with federal decisions.

Trade  Speaker, I was asked by many members on this side to raise that question with the President of the United States. I mentioned it to him and made it very clear that in our view there was no problem at all. It is an area where there is a perfect balance of trade. There is no surplus on either side. Therefore, we do not understand why the United States would like to undo what is working very well at this moment.

Members Of Parliament Pensions  Mr. Speaker, it has been made quite clear that when the pension bill is approved by this Parliament there will be 60 days that members will have to consider that, including hon. colleagues in the third party. When it comes to showing leadership we have cut taxpayer contribution to this pension plan by fully one-third, $3.3 million, and we are showing leadership in expenditure reduction.

Province Of Quebec  It is also likely to be partly responsible for the Liberal's failure to properly deal with the deficit for fear of upsetting Quebec. If the Parti Quebecois does not call the referendum with a clear question on separation within its own 1995 timetable, I call on the Prime Minister to hold a federal referendum in Quebec to settle this issue by year's end. This uncertainty must not continue.

Firearms Act  Currently under Bill C-68 there will not be a charge for sustenance hunters to obtain a firearms licence. However, there are no clear guidelines on how fees will be applied in registering firearms and the transferring of ownership of guns. Through consultations with First Nations, Metis and Inuit, it is my hope that an amendment can be made to eliminate the cost of transferring and registration of firearms by sustenance hunters, as these costs would be an economic hardship on people who cannot afford to buy their food and use their firearms as a tool to feed themselves and their communities.

Young Offenders Act  On this subject, like my colleagues, I will quote from the conclusions set out in the brief presented to the standing committee on justice by the Quebec Bar Association. In essence, it said: "It is very clear that Bill C-37 was introduced in response to pressures by citizens demanding to be better protected through a more effective fight against serious crimes but repression did not appear to be the solution, and for good reasons we might add.

Young Offenders Act  After Bill C-37 was tabled, Quebec's National Assembly gave almost unanimous support to a motion sending a very clear message to the federal Minister of Justice: "Let us continue to address our problems in our own way". There was also a general outcry from experts such as psychoeducators, criminologists, specialized lawyers and social workers.

Canadian Volunteer Service Medal For United Nations Peacekeeping Act  It surveys the total population of potential recipients of honours. The committee makes its recommendations on the basis of certain clear principles. One is the requirement that people be honoured equally in relation to their contribution and that no one be overlooked. Another function of the honours system is to avoid debasing the coinage of honours by duplication or by the indiscriminate authorization of awards.

Social Security System  Do not prejudge our ideas that may be interpreted in so-called code words, because I choose to speak in clear, concise, simple English. There is no other meaning that is contained in these clear, concise words. The Reform Party supports child care programs that subsidize financial need, not the method of child care chosen and that subsidize children and parents, not institutions and professionals.

Social Security System  Going back to at least World War II, there has existed in this country an unwritten but very clear social contract between Canadians and their government. This contract essentially says that on the one hand Canadians will tend to pay more for government than perhaps their counterparts in the U.S. and other nations, but on the other hand, in return for this we as Canadians and as a government have a responsibility to ensure that we will not allow individual Canadians to fall below a certain level.