Statement - June 5, 2006 - Fiscal Imbalance

Mr. Merv Tweed (Brandon—Souris, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Party seems to be a little confused on the fiscal imbalance. Their current leaders refuses to say what its position is.

The last Liberal leader said there was no such thing as a fiscal imbalance and what exactly were the provinces complaining about. His finance minister at the time was just as adamant. He said: “The allegation of a fiscal imbalance in Canada. With the greatest of respect, I do not agree”.

The member for Etobicoke--Lakeshore said that he would call a royal commission to examine the fiscal imbalance. While the member for Kings—Hants said that once upon a time there was a fiscal imbalance but the Liberals got rid of it. How, we are not sure. He will not say.

The member for Newmarket—Aurora said “I think it's sad for the people of Ontario that we have to wait for deathbed repentance before we see some action. That's not good, sound fiscal planning”.

What we think is sad is that on such an important issue, the Liberal Party cannot get its stories straight.