Agriculture  This government, which claims to be concerned about the well-being of farmers, is in the process of dealing another blow to the farm economy. A tax on food, a proposal currently being discussed by the government, could have a disastrous effect on farmers. Imposing a tax on agriculture, which is already in an extremely tenuous situation, would be tantamount to taking an additional one billion out of farmers' pockets.

The Budget  As stated by my colleague, the Minister of Finance, the budget reduces the deficit from $45.7 billion in 1993-94 to $39.7 billion in 1994-95 and $32.7 billion in 1995-96. In terms of spending cuts this is the most significant budget we have seen in this country in 10 years. One of the key components of the deficit reduction program is major cuts in defence spending, some $1.9 billion over the next three years.

Speech From The Throne  "The most important asset of government is the confidence it enjoys of the citizens to whom it is accountable". That quote appeared in chapter 6 of the red book under the heading "Governing with Integrity", from which, I was pleased to see, the hon. member from Kootenay East was quoting earlier this afternoon. I was pleased to see he has a copy.

Canada Pension Plan  Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, Canada still has the lowest payroll taxes of any country in the G-7. Under the Conservatives, not one responsible action was taken to deal with the growing crisis in the CPP, a deficit that was going to be unfunded by the year 2030 of $6 billion.

Speech From The Throne  At the end of the new fiscal year we will have reduced our deficit to GDP ratio from more than 6 per cent to 3 per cent as promised in the red book, from $42 billion to $24 billion. Next year it will be 2 per cent, another per cent lower, the lowest level in 20 years and it will keep going down.

The Environment  Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows full well that these figures are wrong. Tax points must also be taken into consideration. That being said, the Prime Minister himself answered the hon. member last June when he increased transfers to the provinces by $6 billion over five years.

The Budget  As a result of this, there is a dramatic decline in the amount of new money the government has to borrow from financial markets. In 1993-94 Canada's financial requirements stood at 4.2 per cent of GDP or $30 billion. By 1997-98 the financial requirements will have dropped to 0.7 per cent of GDP or $6 billion. As the Minister of Finance pointed out, relative to the size of the economy, Canada's borrowing requirements will be at the lowest level in almost 30 years.

Canada Oil And Gas Operations Act  With respect to discriminatory grants or subsidies, it does not need them, nor does it want them, with new environmental taxes like a carbon tax and wasteful job creation programs. That is my submission on Bill C-6.

Supply  Their very existence goes against the words of those in charge of the infrastructure program, against the Liberal red book and against the promises of this government. Then there is the issue of the program's cost. This $6 billion has to come from somewhere. I can only think of two places; either through more debt which will be repaid by our children and grandchildren or more taxes. At a time when Canadians are taxed to the hilt and their governments are broke, this program pushes us even closer to the brink.

Supply  In contracting however, it is important that everyone be given a chance to compete. I am sure that we end up saving money this way. In the United States, between $4 billion and $6 billion is allocated to conversion assistance in the Clinton plan. Of course, their population is larger. In Europe also larger sums are invested in this area. When you make an effort to look around and see what is going on outside of Canada, you realize that, more and more, Canada's track record as far as its aerospace industry is concerned is not great.

Finance  When we had to cut, which we had to do, we did it in a humane way with plenty of notice. At the same time we engaged in a series of programs such as the child tax benefits and the reinjection of $6 billion into the CHST to enable the provinces and the municipalities—

Budget Implementation Act, 1994  Under our budget plan, gross fiscal savings including the savings announced in previous budgets and secured by this legislation total $28.6 billion over the next three fiscal years. Net savings in that period after taking into account the cost of new economy boosting initiatives total $20.4 billion. These measures will help shrink the deficit from $45.7 billion in the year just ending to $39.7 billion in 1994-95 and to $32.7 billion in the year thereafter.

The Budget  One hundred and sixty five-million dollars over three years will be for education and skills development for young people; $270 million for technology and innovation initiatives; 25 per cent per month increase in the education tax credit; $170 increase in the tuition education credit; $500 increase in the registered education savings plan; $10,500 increase in the lifetime education contribution limit. It was stated by the Canadian press news agency that the federal budget represents: "Deficit reduction without tears or taxes.

Deficit Reduction  Speaker, that is precisely what we have done. That is why the Prime Minister announced in May that we intended to return $6 billion in social transfer payments to the provinces. That is why the Minister of Human Resources Development announced not just an initial contribution of $850 million for the child tax benefit, but a second contribution of the same size.

Constitution Act, 1867  It did not deter Liberal social engineers that this half a billion dollar expenditure of public funds would not in any way reduce the criminal use of firearms or that it would not improve public safety. Liberals believe that they need to tax anything that moves and is healthy and if it continues to move it needs to be regulated.