Debates of Nov. 23rd, 2006

Stephen Harper Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, it is a day of revelations when the Liberal Party now comes out in favour of tax cuts. That party had a lot of chances to cut taxes. Instead, it hoarded surpluses and cut money from the provinces.

This party is doing the opposite. This party cut 29 taxes in the last budget, including the GST, a tax cut for every single person. Shamefully, that party opposed those tax cuts.

Bill Graham Leader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, while the finance minister was complaining yesterday about how mean the federal Liberals were to him when he was Ontario's finance minister, as if that were responsible for the fact that his record in Ontario was an unmitigated disaster, our taxes have gone up by over $1 billion in this country.

Now, along with the Prime Minister, he is putting forward policies that are nothing more than the same Conservative discriminatory policies that failed in the Mike Harris government.

Why is a working single woman any less deserving of a major income tax cut? Why is an unmarried senior treated less fairly than other seniors?

When will the Conservatives stop manipulating our tax system and instead offer real tax breaks to all Canadians who--

The Speaker Peter Milliken

The right hon. the Prime Minister.

Stephen Harper Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, in the last budget the Minister of Finance introduced a working tax credit for every single working Canadian. Just recently in his tax fairness program the Minister of Finance introduced a tax reduction, an increase to the age exemption for every single senior citizen in this country.

The only party to oppose those things, the only party to ever oppose tax fairness for Canadians is the Liberal Party.

Bill Graham Leader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, this is unbelievable. A short time ago, we heard that we supported their budget. Did we support it? Finally, they understood. We do not agree with their vision of Canada in fiscal matters. That is clear.

Thanks to the previous Liberal government, this Conservative government inherited a fiscal situation that is the envy of the world. Instead of allowing all Canadians to benefit from it in a way that is fair, they prefer to take advantage of the situation to change our society based on their neo-conservative vision.

The government has enough money to offer all taxpayers a considerable tax break. Why are all Canadians not benefiting from tax reductions that are fair to everyone? What is wrong with taxes—

The Speaker Peter Milliken

The right hon. Prime Minister.

Stephen Harper Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, this government has cut taxes for all Canadians. This party reduced the GST, a tax paid by all Canadians. This party gave every worker in this country a tax credit. This party cut taxes by increasing the tax credit for every senior.

The only party that opposes these measures is the Liberal Party of Canada, which voted in favour of a tax rate of zero for large companies in this country.

Marlene Jennings Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC

Mr. Speaker, thanks to the prudent fiscal management of the previous Liberal government, the Prime Minister was able to make expensive promises to Quebec last December. Even though we have a surplus, he prefers to cut programs that help the most disadvantaged and to reduce federal support to the Government of Quebec.

Why is the Prime Minister withholding $800 million for day care and $300 million for the Kyoto protocol from Quebec?

Stephen Harper Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, this party has given a family allowance to every Quebec family. That is important. In addition, it is the Liberal Party that was opposed to giving these benefits to all Quebec families.

Marlene Jennings Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance, and now the Prime Minister himself, has the nerve to say that the transfers have increased. The increases he mentioned are those made by the previous Liberal government, such as the $41 billion increase in health transfers.

Does the Prime Minister realize that when he says that the transfers increased he is paying tribute to the previous Liberal government?

Stephen Harper Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, everyone knows the story of the Liberal Party of Canada and its cuts in provincial transfers, its health cuts. It is the only Canadian government to have ever made cuts to health transfers.

This government has increased transfers to Quebec and given a historic role to Quebec at UNESCO. Our party is opposed to the centralist leanings of the Liberal Party of Canada.

Gilles Duceppe Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC

Mr. Speaker, there are currently two motions that were tabled in this House and that deal with the recognition of the Quebec nation. Everyone agrees on just one point: Quebeckers form a nation.

Given that, will the Prime Minister admit that Quebeckers form a nation?

Stephen Harper Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, there are now three motions, including two that were tabled by the Bloc Québécois. That party made its decision. Our own decision on this issue is very clear: Quebeckers form a nation within a united Canada, and this is important.

It is important because Quebeckers participated in the founding and development of this country, and they will participate in its future, because the Canadian identity is part of the Quebec identity.