Statement made on 23 March 2011 by Senator James Cowan
Hon. James S. Cowan (Leader of the Opposition):
Honourable senators, my question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate.
Yesterday in the budget, we saw, once again, that the government is out of touch with Canadians and still refuses to come clean with Canadians about its spending plans. We saw a budget that completely ignores major spending items by this government, such as tens of billions of dollars for jets, jails and corporate tax cuts.
The Parliamentary Budget Officer says that their stealth fighter jets alone will cost $30 billion. That is $1,000 for every man, woman and child in this country. Today, the Parliamentary Budget Officer, established by this government, issued a second report saying that he stands by his numbers, which were contradicted by the government.
This Prime Minister has lost touch with Canadians. Does he really think that Canadians prefer $30 billion for fighter jets instead of investments in health care or daycare?
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