Madam Speaker, let us for a second consider the perspectives of other Canadians, in particular our friends in the journalistic community.
For example, here is one from the Sun Media, “Martin's Folly an Elaborate Hoax?”
This is the bill that political hucksters built, at worst an act of fiscal recklessness that should make even Liberals blush
Here is another. It is from that moderate financial evaluator and think tank, The Fraser Institute. It says:
By increasing government spending at unsustainable rates and expanding the public sector it seems clear that the federal government has not learned the painful lessons of the 1980s and 90s...
That is a good one.
Here is one more. This is from the StarPhoenix in Saskatoon. I think Saskatchewan used to have a couple of Liberal MPs. It says here. This is from Nancy Hughes Anthony, the President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. She says:
--we're squandering our resources--and putting in place multi-year commitments--while the demographics tell us that there are going to be fewer taxpayers to pay for all this, it just doesn't make any sense...I don't think it's sustainable.
I guess my question for my colleague from Peace River who has done a heck of a job on the finance committee and has been a wonderful member of Parliament is this. In the budget book it talks a lot about the demographics of Canada and its aging workforce and population. I think Japan may be the only other country in the world which faces a greater challenge with an aging population. Does he think this shows any foresight for our future as a country?