A federal government led by Stockwell Day would seek to return common sense and respect to the taxpayer, as well as more power and autonomy to the provinces, a Weyburn luncheon crowd was told on Tuesday.

The Canadian Alliance leadership candidate, and former cabinet minister in Ralph Klein's Tory government in Alberta, stopped to speak to a crowd of around 80 people at the Weyburn Inn before going on to speak in Estevan and later Regina.

Relating his experience in bringing in new legislation in Alberta and seeing it work, Day said more common-sense approaches to policy need to be implemented at the national level.

Using an oft-repeated phrase to applause, Day said, "If the federal government won't change, we need to change the federal government."

Souris-Moose Mountain MP Roy Bailey, who has declared his support for Day since the leadership campaign began, introduced Day as Canada's next prime minister.

"I know very well within the Souris-Moose Mountain constituency there is great political excitement in the air, and a lot of that excitement is aimed at Stockwell," said Bailey, adding later he stands by his prediction that there will be a federal election in the fall after Prime Minister Jean Chretien said an election will be called sometime in the next year.

Asked how he would approach health care, Day called for a full reinstatement of health care funding to the level before 1995, when transfers were cut by 35 per cent, and more cooperation between Ottawa and the provinces in the administration of health care dollars.

"We would also give the provinces the ability to have tax points transferred to them, so they can more directly raise their own funds. You cut out the middleman and you're better able to deliver services where and whenever they need them," said Day in an interview following his speech.

He added that part of this cooperative effort would be an assurance by the provinces they will respect the five principles of the Canada Health Act, so Ottawa can give them the tax room and flexibility in using their tax dollars.

Day defended Alberta's controversial Bill 11 on health care, saying it is not allowing private hospitals to set up in the province, but is simply allowing more of the types of clinics that are available now in Allan Rock's riding. Day referred to the Shouldice Clinic, which specializes strictly in hernia operations. Under the new bill, clinics can be set up but must provide their services under the provisions of the Canada Health Act; that is, no extra charges can be levied to the patients.

The change in how government is run needs to start in the House of Commons, he said, adding Prime Minister Chretien reins in his Liberal members from speaking out or voting against the party line.

"I heard a very telling comment he made in Calgary recently on what goes on in the House of Commons. He used the phrase, 'my House of Commons.' It's actually our House of Commons, and that whole line of thinking has to be changed. It belongs to the people of Canada," said Day.

Some of the changes he would advocate would be an elected Senate, so the senators are elected and accountable, and recall for senators and MPs.

On agriculture, the candidate said the federal government's way of thinking is alien to most people, and isn't working, particularly the income assistance program and the high costs of inputs in the face of low grain prices.

Quoting a survey taken of 3,500 Saskatchewan farmers from a series of meetings held around the province, Day said 74 per cent described the federal government's current approach on agriculture policy as making it difficult or impossible to continue farming; 88 per cent said the income assistance program isn't working; and 90 per cent said they were under the heavy weight of high input costs with no help from Ottawa.

Asked by an audience member on his stand in regards to the Canadian Wheat Board, Day said some farmers like the Board the way it is while others would like to have a choice as to whether to sell to them or not. He said if farmers were given the choice, "I don't believe the Wheat Board would be ripped apart by farmers making that choice. We need to also review the board members' appointment process."

On the issue of the federal debt, Day decried the $3 billion payment on the debt, noting at that rate the national debt will take 191 years to pay. In contrast, as the Alberta treasurer, he made a payment of $1.3 billion on a debt of $13 billion, or 10 per cent, in his last budget before taking a leave of absence to pursue the Alliance leadership.

"We were the first province in the country to get rid of our net debt; this plan works. I've been trying to share this with the federal government, and they've been telling us it doesn't work," he said.

The taxation system is also unfair in how it treats families, said Day, who would raise exemptions for both the primary wage-earner and the spouse to $10,000 each, plus increasing the exemption for children to $6,000.

"What that does on the tax side is greatly increases the amount of money a family can make, whether as a one or two-income family. It's called respect, treating all families equally," said Day, estimating this plan would take 1.9 million low-income Canadians off the tax rolls.

Asked by audience member Derrell Rodine what his stand is on federal gun legislation, Day replied, "I've developed a policy on the bill, it's only three words long: just scrap it. The reason I say that is Bill C-68 is an administrative nightmare that will do nothing to reduce crime in this country. In fact, it may result in an increase in crime as there are now 400 RCMP officers administering it. These are officers who should be on the street."

On the latest issue involving Human Resources Development Canada - namely their compilation of information files on every Canadian citizen - Day said he recommends that people should make a request under the Freedom of Information Act to see the file that has been compiled on them.

If he leads the Alliance into power, he added, he promised this department would be overhauled, both on its large grants and on these files.

The founding meeting of the Souris-Moose Mountain Constituency Association will be held on Saturday, May 27, in the Weyburn Elks Hall starting at 1 p.m. The leadership vote for the Canadian Alliance will be held country-wide on June 24.