Debates of March 31st, 2004
House of Commons Hansard #33 of the 37th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was tax.
Topics
- David Strangway
- Volunteer Emergency Workers
- Insurance Industry
- Arts and Culture
- User Fees Act
- Gertrude Crosbie
- Wilbert Keon
- Diane Descôteaux
- New Horizons Program
- Salvation Army International Staff Band
- Kyoto Protocol
- Violence Against Women
- Employment Insurance
- House of Commons
- Government Appointments
- The Prime Minister
- Sponsorship Program
- National Defence
- Sponsorship Program
- Health
- The Budget
- Government Expenditures
- The Budget
- Foreign Affairs
- Canada Elections Act
- Employment Insurance
- Supreme Court of Canada
- National Security
- Employment Insurance
- Agriculture
- Presence in Gallery
- Message from the Senate
- The Budget
- Ways and Means
- Employment Insurance Program
- Older Adult Justice Act
- Chief Electoral Officer's Report
- Sponsorship Program
- Government On-Line
- Government Response to Petitions
- Public Service Commission
- Budget Implementation Act, 2004
- Tlicho Land Claims and Self-Government Act
- National Security
- Committees of the House
- Housing Bill of Rights
- Public Service Employment Act
- Committees of the House
- Petitions
- Questions on the Order Paper
- Motions for Papers
- Canada Elections Act
- Income Tax Act
Sponsorship Program
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
Liberal
Stephen Owen Vancouver Quadra, BC
For the chair of the public accounts committee or any committee of the House or any process that the House is involved with to prejudge an issue and to then pretend it is still a fact finding exercise--
Sponsorship Program
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
The Speaker
The hon. member for Calgary Southeast.
Sponsorship Program
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
Canadian Alliance
Jason Kenney Calgary Southeast, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have news for this minister: Canadians will not be satisfied until they see people taken to jail for stealing from the public treasury.
Why is it that the Liberals on the committee do not want us to have the opportunity to question Chuck Guité in person, live, before going to the polls? We will release his testimony the day he comes before the committee to tell the truth and to answer questions. Why the cover-up? Why do they not want us to get to the bottom of--
Sponsorship Program
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
The Speaker
The hon. Minister of Public Works and Government Services.
Sponsorship Program
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
Vancouver Quadra
B.C.
Liberal
Stephen Owen Minister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, members on this side are very anxious and certainly the government is trying in every way possible to get to the bottom and the truth of this matter, to hold those who are responsible to account, and to ensure that it never happens again. It is an unprecedented series of processes in place to ensure that.
If we are talking about guilt and jail and financial recovery, then let us look to the civil processes that have been set up. Let us look to the RCMP investigations. If there is evidence of wrongdoing that should send one to jail, surely we would want to involve the RCMP.
Health
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
Bloc
Réal Ménard Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC
Mr. Speaker, it is obvious that the federal contribution to health care funding is clearly insufficient. We also know that Ottawa imposes more restrictions on Quebec today than it did when it was paying a larger share of the bill.
Will the Minister of Health admit that the federal government has not only reduced its funding of the health system, but it has also created more bureaucracy by adding more red tape?
Health
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
Papineau—Saint-Denis
Québec
Liberal
Pierre Pettigrew Minister of Health
Mr. Speaker, what Canadians are interested in is knowing what our government is prepared to do, in partnership with the provinces, to find long-term solutions. What we need is a plan.
Yesterday, I heard the Quebec Minister of Finance say that, in fact, it was not just a question of funding for health, but that reforms were needed. That was the Quebec Minister of Finance who said that yesterday, when presenting his own budget.
We agree that we must work together and develop a plan with practical and lasting solutions.
Health
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
Bloc
Réal Ménard Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC
Mr. Speaker, what the Liberal health minister of Quebec said in the National Assembly was that there is no new money for health.
My question is for the Minister of Health. Can he give a yes or no answer to the people of Quebec? Does his budget include new money for health? That is not what the Liberal finance minister said in the National Assembly.
Health
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
Papineau—Saint-Denis
Québec
Liberal
Pierre Pettigrew Minister of Health
Mr. Speaker, there was $2 billion for the health care system in the budget presented by the Minister of Finance last week. There was $665 million for the Canada public health agency, including $400 million for better vaccination programs that will be backed up by the provinces.
Health
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh.
Health
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
An hon. member
Stop your yapping.
Health
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
Liberal
Pierre Pettigrew Papineau—Saint-Denis, QC
We understand very well. The hon. member for Rimouski--Neigette-et-la Mitis explained it very well the other day. She said that the Bloc is a watchdog; it is there to bark. It can bark, but we are working toward practical solutions. We want to avoid having Quebeckers sleeping in the doghouse. We invite the people of Quebec inside the house with the masters of the house.
The Budget
Oral Question Period
March 31st, 2004 / 2:45 p.m.
Bloc
Pierre Paquette Joliette, QC
Mr. Speaker, the budget brought down by Quebec's Minister of Finance is a convincing illustration of the impact on Quebec's public finances of the fiscal imbalance between the federal government, the provinces and Quebec.
Will the Minister of Finance admit that his recent budget has had a harmful effect on the finances of Quebec and the provinces, as Yves Séguin has said? That is the truth.
The Budget
Oral Question Period
2:45 p.m.
Wascana
Saskatchewan
Liberal
Ralph Goodale Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that Quebec's budget documents show that equalization changes flow not from cuts from the federal government but from the functioning of the existing formula. I am pleased that Quebec has acknowledged federal assistance and flexibility in managing equalization going forward, and I am pleased that Quebec has been able to increase its spending, cut its taxes and declare 2003-04 in balance.
The Budget
Oral Question Period
2:45 p.m.
Bloc
Pierre Paquette Joliette, QC
Mr. Speaker, it is true that equalization reform was announced in the recent federal budget, but according to Mr. Séguin—and this is also true—the shortfalls Quebec has been denouncing for 20 years are unfortunately still present.
Is the Minister of Finance aware that the changes unilaterally imposed on the provinces and Quebec will cause further deterioration in the public finances of the provinces and Quebec?