Speech From The Throne  When I see my colleague, the Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific, my colleague for Bramalea-Gore-Malton and other colleagues in this place, it is clear this is one Parliament where we are beginning to reflect the real face of Canada. For that I think the governing party can take some credit. As the Prime Minister said, all government policies are aimed at creating a just, fair, human, decent and prosperous country.

Financial Administration Act  The need for increased equity and simplicity in the tax system is recognized. The finance minister has made it clear on a number of occasions that his budget will be fair and will try to reduce inequities in our tax system. I am sure the member for Kamloops will applaud the minister on budget day and thank him for the great service he is doing for Canadians.

Financial Administration Act  I give my friend, the Minister of Finance, full credit for going public in the last few days and saying that the system is filled with tax loopholes that have to be closed. He also said that the poor do not use tax loopholes. It is clear what he means. The rich use tax loopholes. When we go down to the harbours in some of the port cities of Canada and see the huge yachts, they are by and large tax deductions. I personally know a number of people with boats who write off half of the cost of the boat and call it a business tax deduction for entertainment purposes.

Financial Administration Act  When we are convinced that the procedure to get their views has been fair, impartial and equitable and does represent what the majority wants, then and only then will this government be ready to approve changes to existing legislation. Until then I urge members of this House to respond to Bill C-263 with a clear and strong message that we are not yet ready to make major changes without understanding the consequences and most important without consulting with its users, the prairie farmers. There is still a lot of work to be done and there is still much consultation to go through before we can come to a definitive decision on the future of the wheat board.

Financial Administration Act  moved that Bill C-263, an act to amend the Financial Administration Act and other acts in consequence thereof (exempted crown corporations), be read the second time and referred to a committee. Mr. Speaker, the message was loud and clear to every member of Parliament during the last election. Our constituents demanded accountability. All members of the House were asked by their constituents to come to Ottawa to work toward solutions to the debt problem facing our nation.

Firearms Act  He knows perfectly well he is doing it and he should be ashamed of himself. I refer him for the purpose of clearing up the error-perhaps he will admit his deliberate error-to section 92(1) of the proposed new bill currently before the House. Page 68: Subject to subsection (4) and section 98, every person commits an offence who possesses a firearm knowing that the person is not the holder of (a) a licence under which the person may possess it; and (b) a registration certificate for the firearm.

Firearms Act  I am talking to grassroots individuals throughout the country. They do not want it. It is loud and clear from every indication. Check the petitions that are tabled and tell me how many petitions are in favour of this and how many are against. Mr. Speaker, you will be pleasantly surprised.

Regional Development  I have a supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. If it is clear, given that Quebec has adopted a general strategy for regional development, including assistance to businesses, would the minister not agree that, in the interest of avoiding all duplication and overlap, as the Prime Minister has said, he must recognize Quebec as the sole authority in terms of regional development, including assistance to businesses?

Pictou Landing Indian Band Agreement Act  In making that decision I would ask my hon. colleagues to keep the crown's honour in mind. I would ask them to remember that this legislation is the product of a clear and genuine commitment which was made at the request of the Pictou Landing Micmac more than a year ago. I would remind them that the government's word was accepted by the First Nation in good faith despite the problems it has endured over the past 25 years.

Supply  Because in each of these solutions, the government saw an opportunity to decentralize its powers to the provinces, which it does not want to do, because its leitmotiv is to further centralize powers and to leave the provinces with their problems. It is clear today that this government does not intend to make concessions to the provinces. On the contrary, it intends to give them more responsibilities, without the tax points which would go with those responsibilities.

Supply  And in order to reach these objectives, it is essential, and Canadians themselves are demanding it, that we put in place an effective financial reform strategy. Our government believes that winning the debt challenge starts with laying a clear, concrete and credible foundation. That means keeping to the deficit track we set out on to bring the deficit down to 3 per cent of GDP in three years. That is exactly what we will do, as the minister said, "come hell or high water".

Gun Control  Mr. Speaker, I have already made it clear that we will put the details of our calculations before the committee. In so far as the wisdom of the registration system is concerned, first we rely upon the advice of the experts, the police chiefs across the country who have been asking for this for years.

Justice  In that case the federal government argued that the Supreme Court of Canada should adopt and strengthen guidelines stipulated by the Court of Appeal of British Columbia to protect sexual assault centres from harassment. The court reserved its judgment and we will await the disposition. Let me make it clear to the House that if necessary the federal government is prepared to introduce legislation under the Criminal Code to ensure that we strike the right balance between full answer and defence on the one hand and the freedom of sexual assault centres to operate without harassment.

30Th Anniversary Of Canadian Flag  Speaker, instead of clumsily justifying himself, why does the minister not just admit that we have a clear case here of a vast federal propaganda campaign gearing up in Quebec during the year of the referendum?

Taxation  Between urban Canadians and rural Canadians, in fact between Canadians in each region of the country the budget must be fair. If we are to face up to the tremendous problem of the debt and the deficit, it is clear the budget will only be accepted if Canadians feel that everybody is bearing their fair share of the burden. I can assure the hon. member that is our intention.