Debates of Sept. 29th, 2005

David Emerson Minister of Industry

Mr. Speaker, it is very interesting that the World Economic Forum, at a time when members opposite are trashing one of our pre-eminent programs of innovation support, had this to say about the Government of Canada:

We have been well impressed by Canada's strong performance among her G-7 peers, particularly the cautious management of public finances.

It went on to say that more importantly, the country continues to nurture its capacity for innovation and there have been improvements with respect to company spending on R and D, the extent of absorption of new technologies and the level of business community and continued penetration—

Brian Masse Windsor West, ON

Mr. Speaker, another economist's report was tabled today that shows that Canadians are being ripped off at the pump. The fact of the matter is that prices should not be above $1 per litre. In fact, the sheer profiteering from hurricanes has been devastating to consumers. At the same time the industry itself has described its profits as spectacular.

The government has been sitting on a gas report tabled two years ago to bring accountability. Have enough Canadians been ripped off for the Liberals to act?

Will the Minister of Industry create a watchdog price monitoring agency now to protect Canadian consumers?

Ralph Goodale Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, the government has indicated that we are working on a variety of measures to deal with the concerns of Canadians with respect to transparency and competition in the marketplace, particularly the Minister of Industry and the Minister of Natural Resources. I have been very active on this file. It has been very helpful to have the advice of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the member for Pickering—Scarborough East, whose work on this file has been exemplary.

Nathan Cullen Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC

Mr. Speaker, the environment commissioner released a scathing report today confirming what 11 environmental groups have said all along, that the Liberal government has broken promise after promise to Canadians when it comes to our environment. New Democrats have long said what the auditor now confirms, that any credibility the Liberal government had when it comes to the environment is now gone.

Would the minister like to stand up today and make another promise that he is only going to break tomorrow?

Stéphane Dion Minister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member would not be able to list one promise that I have not kept since I have been in Parliament.

We are committed to go ahead with our 10 year plan for clean air; to go ahead with our climate change plan, which is the most compelling one to be found on earth now; to go ahead in the next 15 years with our plan to decontaminate all federal sites. All those commitments will be fulfilled.

Monte Solberg Medicine Hat, AB

Mr. Speaker, Doug and Kay from Oakville sent us an e-mail today saying that they lost $30,000 in their savings on September 19 because of the finance minister's inept management on the income trust issue. We understand that Liberals do not care about small investors and seniors like Doug and Kay, because according to them, they do not count politically.

The minister told us that he thought these stories were a bunch of exaggerations. Is he saying that Doug and Kay are lying?

Ralph Goodale Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, I hazard a guess that my concern for Doug and Kay and their counterparts is every bit as deep, if not more, than that of the member for Medicine Hat. I would say to that member, not to Doug and Kay, but to that member, that those who feed a sense of fear and exaggeration are doing a disservice in the marketplace and elsewhere to those whom they purport to represent.

Monte Solberg Medicine Hat, AB

Mr. Speaker, if the finance minister is really so concerned, then why does he not do something about it? Why does he not stand in his place right now and say without equivocation that income trusts are here to stay and he will not implement taxes on them?

Ralph Goodale Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, the hon. gentleman is—