Debates of April 13th, 2005

Income Tax Act

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by correcting the parliamentary secretary. There is more than one exception to the rule. RCMP officers are also forced to pay the health care premium when they are covered by the federal system.

On November 3, 2004, during the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs, the Minister of National Defence acknowledged that Ontario was being completely unfair in collecting the premium from soldiers in Ontario. He stated that he would personally raise the issue with the provincial treasurer of Ontario.

On February 7, I gave the minister an opportunity to share the findings of his department's request. However, his seat mate, the President of the Treasury Board, responded with a non-answer.

The minister has received a full report from the Department of National Defence and he has the excuse from his provincial cousins. Now is the time for the Minister of National Defence to defend military members against the obvious violation to the Canada Health Act.

[Keith Martin, Liberal, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Mr. Speaker, there are some core groups, the RCMP, aboriginal people, the CF members and corrections, but that is another matter all together.

The Minister of National Defence has gone to the health minister. Currently, we are working with the Ontario government to try to resolve this issue quickly for our Canadian Forces members.

In lieu of that, we have taken the position to try to accommodate members who live in Ontario in the post-living differential. We have factored this in, so at the end of the day if the cost of living of CF members who live in Ontario has increased greater than members living in other parts of the country, then they will receive more money through the post-living differential.

This demonstrates a clear commitment on the part of the government to ensure that our CF members are treated fairly and that they receive the moneys they deserve. We are committed to resolving this issue with the Ontario government.

[The Deputy Speaker]

The motion to adjourn the House is now deemed to have been adopted. Accordingly the House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 10 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 7:40 p.m.)