Supply  Mr. Speaker, the hon. member does not seem to understand the simple arithmetic that the size of the federal government today is less than it has been for 50 years. I could perhaps illuminate history by describing the meeting to which he referred. After the meeting the National P

Supply  Mr. Speaker, I have two things to say. First, projected surpluses are calculated by economists from banks and other institutions who have no political reasons to hide anything. Second, the hon. member continues to insist that he is the only one who can make such brilliant foreca

Supply  Mr. Speaker, our government just lowered employment insurance contributions for the eighth consecutive year. This means that, compared to 1994, employers and employees will save $6.8 billion this year. Not only did we do that, but we also increased payments.

Supply  Mr. Speaker, it would seem that the member does not understand that the forecasts used by the government are those made by economists. These are not political forecasts of surpluses and deficits, they are forecasts by other economists. His forecasts of surpluses of $13 billion

Supply  Mr. Speaker, on the question of Canada using the U.S. dollar, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance have stated with extraordinary clarity that we are not going to do that. I do not know one person in the Liberal caucus who advocates it. The member for Regina--Qu'Appell

Supply  Mr. Speaker, I think that there have been a number of recent changes to the EI plan the hon. member does not want to mention. As far as premiums go, as I have already said, they have been reduced for eight years running, so that employees and employers are now paying $6.8 billion

Supply  Mr. Speaker, I certainly agree with the hon. member that productivity is of central importance in the longer term to rising living standards in the country, but I cannot understand why he says that we have not addressed the issue. Let me give the member four very quick examples.

Supply  Mr. Speaker, with all due respect, the member opposite reflects what might be called an accountant's mentality. One famous economist said some years ago, perhaps referring to accountants, that it was better to be approximately right than precisely wrong. The home heating subsidy

Supply  Mr. Speaker, my colleague across the aisle said that he was in favour of more foreign aid. That is my view and the view of our Prime Minister. That seems a little strange coming from his party because I had not realized that was its position. Would his party be in support of add

Employment Insurance  Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should know that these surpluses are fictitious. He should know that employees and employers received $6.8 billion through reductions in the amount of their contributions. He should also know that improvements were made to the program. Finally, he sho

Employment Insurance  Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should know that, as was recommended by the auditor general, these contributions are put into the government's general revenues.

Employment Insurance  Mr. Speaker, all hon. members should know that it was in 1986 that the auditor general recommended that the separate fund be abolished. This was under the Conservatives. It was only after this government came to office that the auditor general's recommendation was implemented.

The Economy  Mr. Speaker, the revenue went to the consolidated revenue fund. If the member wishes to hear more, he has approximately 60 minutes and 30 seconds to wait.

The Budget  Mr. Speaker, I have two questions for the member. First, almost all of his remarks are based on a fictitious surplus of about $13 billion. Given that he is the only economist in the country with such a far-fetched forecast, my question for him is the following: why should the gov

The Budget  Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is complaining because we did not do his party's $10 billion stimulus when in fact the stimulus we provided was on the order of $26 billion. The point is that because of actions taken a year ago we have $17 billion in tax cuts in this year alone. That