Jesse Flis

[Petitions, April 17th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, it is also my privilege and duty pursuant to Standing Order 36, to place a petition in this House signed by constituents from across the greater Toronto area.

The petitioners claim that whereas Taiwan has dramatically improved its record on human rights and has held free elections in a multi-party system and has conducted its first direct presidential election on March 23, 1996, the petitioners urge and if necessary facilitate the Government of China to enter into meaningful dialogue with the Government of Taiwan at the highest levels such as through their respective foreign ministries with an eye toward decreasing tensions and resolving the issue of the future of Taiwan.

[The Budget, April 15th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I cannot let the hon. member's incorrect statements go unchallenged.

I refer him to the budget speech. He complains about what was and was not said to the public. The Minister of Finance said: "The new funds that government must borrow from financial markets each year will be cut to $6 billion, 0.7 per cent of GDP in 1997, the lowest among all G-7 central governments". The minister went on to say: "The debt to GDP ratio, the size of the debt in relation to Canada's economy, will finally begin to decline in 1997-98. The economy will grow faster than the debt". There are the statements in black and white made publicly in the House of Commons.

How can the Reform members, speaker after speaker, say that we are not open and honest with the public?

[The Budget, April 15th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Kootenay East began his debate by stating that the government has absolutely no plan and that the budget should be reflective of the government's plan.

I refer him to the throne speech we began this session with. The throne speech did refer to our commitment to jobs and growth, youth, science, technology and trade. The throne speech referred to security for Canadians. A secure social safety net is very important for the people of Canada. The throne speech referred to a modern and united country. Federalism is constantly evolving. There were

promises made in the throne speech about a first ministers meeting which will be coming up probably in June of this year.

I now refer the member to the budget. The purpose of the budget is to spell out the government's plan in detail and the implementation of the government's plan. Beginning with our platform in 1993 we fulfilled certain commitments halfway through our mandate. Now we are showing Canadians how we are going to meet the rest of our commitments in the latter half of our mandate.

I would like the hon. member to read the throne speech and the budget speech again. I think he will be assured and he can assure his constituents that this government has a very clear plan for the future growth of this country.

[Semaine Nationale De La Francophonie, March 22nd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, we are now celebrating the Semaine nationale de la Francophonie. I am taking this opportunity to make my first statement in French and to emphasize the contribution made by French speaking people of all origins to Canadian society.

There are currently more than 8.5 million French speaking people in our country; one Canadian in three speaks French. As a founding member of the Francophonie, Canada actively promotes the French language and culture. Canada is the only French speaking country to be a member of both the Francophonie and the Commonwealth.

Our unique multicultural heritage and our linguistic duality eloquently show the world that to be different does not mean to be divided. During this Semaine nationale de la Francophonie, let us stress the contribution made by French speaking people to Canada and to the whole world.

[Canada Transportation Act, March 22nd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I want to put on the record that I do not know why hon. members opposite want to discriminate against the elderly. There are people who at the age of 90 do not want to be considered disabled, who do not want wheelchairs, et cetera. Then there are people at age 60 who do require a wheelchair. For the ones who do desire assistance, it is already in the act and is already being practised. People are flying. Airlines provide wheelchairs for people of all ages.

Why would those members discriminate against the elderly? I believe the elderly would be offended if that motion were adopted.

[Borrowing Authority Act, 1996-97, March 21st, 1996]

An hon. member says that is what people want. If that is what people want, can he explain why the government party is running 58 per cent in the polls and his party ratings are going down further and further? It shows the public is not buying the Reform program.

The hon. member went on to talk about the GST. He tied that in with party's lowering taxes. It would lower taxes, get rid of the GST. At the same time he criticizes the deficit and the public debt. What he shared with us will drive the deficit up even further and increase the public debt.

That is why I said he used to make sense but all of a sudden does not make sense. He complains the government has no plan. The government ran on a plan. We put out a very clear platform and the people gave us the mandate to implement the platform over the next five years.

We have another two years to go. Mike Harris tried to do in one year what we are spreading over a four year period. This why the people are quite happy with our latest budget, quite happy with the first two budgets. They know we are on track. The financial confidence is there. The investment confidence is there. I think the government is right on track and I do not see why the Reform Party cannot understand this.

[Borrowing Authority Act, 1996-97, March 21st, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I always listen very attentively when the hon. member speaks because when he first came to Ottawa he made a lot of sense. However, today he has fallen into the Reform rhetoric and does not make any sense at all.

He said he was in Etobicoke helping the Reform candidate to get elected there. I was there as well. There was not much support for the Reform Party in Etobicoke.

The other day he also saw what happened at Queen's Park when the riot police had to be called in. These are scenes we witness in other countries. Never did we predict we would witness such scenes here. The Harris government is doing what the Reform Party wants for the entire country. Does the hon. member want to see these kinds of scenes repeated across the country?

[Manila Disco Fire, March 20th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, senseless tragedy has struck the world once again. Yesterday fire broke out at a disco in Manila. The disco was packed with students celebrating their graduation.

Reports show that at least 150 young people perished in the fire and scores were injured. Most of those who died were trampled to death in a rush for the disco's only exit.

On behalf of all Canadians, I wish to extend our sympathies to the families and loved ones of all who died. I also wish to offer my personal condolences to the constituents of Filipino origin living in my constituency of Parkdale-High Park who may have lost someone dear to them.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to everybody concerned.

[Borrowing Authority Act, 1996-97, March 18th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, it is clear the hon. member did not read what is in the budget. The hon. member did not hear a word of what I said. My whole 10 minutes was to emphasize how we have set the environment since we came into power to create jobs, create jobs

for young people, create jobs in high technology. He did not hear the Minister of Finance. He did not hear me when I said we are going to use the Team Canada approach that has been so successful internationally in generating $20 billion worth of deals and contracts for Canadians. For every billion dollars of exports generated 11,000 jobs are created. The hon. member does not seem to take that into account at all.

The Team Canada approach was used in the infrastructure program. The municipalities and the provinces told us what their needs were. It is the first time the three levels of government got together to meet the needs of the local communities. Each level contributed $2 billion. It did create immediate jobs which was the intent of that program.

I hope the hon. member will first of all read what is in the throne speech, read what is in the budget and listen when we are debating in this House.

[Borrowing Authority Act, 1996-97, March 18th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, thank you for reminding hon. members that we are debating Bill C-10. I am pleased to participate in the debate on this.

Bill C-10 is an act to provide borrowing authority for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 1996. Under the borrowing authority act the Minister of Finance with the approval of the Governor in Council may raise money under the Financial Administration Act by way of a loan or by the issue and/or sale of securities of Canada.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Minister of Finance on his outstanding effort, not just with this budget, but for the previous two budgets as well.

For the first time in a decade we have a finance minister who not only sets objectives but he meets them. As well, he often exceeds them. In the platform book we promised to reduce the deficit to 3 per cent of the GDP by the end of our mandate. We started at almost 6 per cent when we took office and at the end of four years it will be down to 2 per cent.

Those efforts have allowed the Canadian government to restore its credibility, credibility not only among those in financial circles but among Canadian taxpayers as well. Canadians now feel they are getting value for the money they send to Ottawa every year.

Not since the 1980s have Canadians been able to see the light at the end of the deficit tunnel. We all agree on the need to eliminate the deficit. Now that objective can be clearly seen on the horizon. When we arrive there we can start paying down the public debt, as the spokesman for the Reform was saying in his speech, which otherwise would be a burden on our children. I agree with him.

Both the Bloc Quebecois and the Reform Party have been asking what is in this budget in job creation. The simple answer is: plenty. However, we cannot look at just one budget; we have to look at the government's entire program. Interest rates are consistently low and have been for quite some time. The spread between Canadian and American rates has almost been eliminated. The dollar is stable at a level that encourages exports and low interest rates. The deficit has been brought under control and on target. These things together have set the foundation and financial environment for a solid economy capable of creating jobs now and into the future.

In the month of February alone, 44,000 jobs were created. There are 170,000 more jobs in Canada today than there were in July last year. Critics on the other side ignore these significant accomplishments and have adopted the attitude of: What have you done for me lately?

This government does not want to sit on its laurels when it comes to job creation for Canadians. In the high tech field the government is creating Technology Partnership Canada, a $250 million program to facilitate the economic development of new technologies, technologies such as environmental management, advanced materials and manufacturing processes and the growing biotechnology field. As well, Technology Partnership Canada will solidify and build on the gains we have made in the aerospace sector.

We are continuing our efforts to help businesses of all sizes. Additional funding will be provided to both the Business Development Bank and Export Development Corporation to create new opportunities for business.

Team Canada trade missions have been an outstanding success. The delegations led by the Prime Minister have secured $20 billion in contracts and deals for Canadian companies. Ours is an export economy and every billion dollars in exports is worth over 11,000 jobs here in Canada.

The Minister of Human Resources Development is taking a lead in changing the Canadian focus from unemployment to employment. We are increasing the earned income tax credit to encourage people to re-enter the labour market. Both the educational expenses deduction and the transfer of tuition and education credits will be increased by 25 per cent. As well, more people will be eligible for the child care expenses deduction, including high school students. Single people will now be able to claim credits currently available to couples. In two years these efforts will put almost $300 million into the pockets of Canadians and will allow them to meet the challenges of today's job market.

For the young people of Canada, the government is working hard on employment opportunities. For many years young people were told that if they worked hard to get an education there would be a better job for them later. The economy has been slow in fulfilling that bargain so the federal government is stepping up its efforts. The government is doubling its funding for summer job creation for students. An additional $315 million over three years will be set aside to create employment opportunities for youth.

One of the Canada employment offices for youth is usually set up each summer in my riding of Parkdale-High Park. I know this additional funding will be welcomed by the young people looking for jobs this summer.

The Team Canada approach that has been successful overseas will be directed at home to co-operate with businesses to create entry level jobs for young people.

It is easy to see the Reform Party and the Bloc Quebecois are wrong when they say that this budget does nothing about jobs. Employment is the number one priority of this government and the facts and initiatives speak for themselves. The March 6 budget is about more than jobs. It is about promoting fairness and securing futures for Canadians.

The government has listened to the concerns of parents about the taxation of child support payments. Divorces granted after May 1, 1997 will require that parents who receive support payments will not have to pay taxes on that money. The total amount will go to support the children. As well, the government will introduce changes to the child support guidelines under the Divorce Act to ensure equitable support payments.

In recent months there has been much talk about how Canada's pension system is collapsing. Nothing could be further from the truth and the government is acting now to restore confidence. Starting in the year 2001, senior citizens will receive a new seniors benefit directed to those in need that will combine the old age security, the government income supplement, age and pension income tax credits. Seventy per cent of all seniors will be as well or better off under the new system. Indeed 90 per cent of single senior women will benefit under the new seniors benefit. A senior couple with outside income totalling $40,000 a year will receive over $7,500 in tax free benefits under the new system.

In an effort to help all Canadians, particularly younger Canadians, the government is eliminating the seven year carry over rule on RRSP contributions. In the future Canadians will be able to carry forward unused RRSP contributions for life so that young people, young families making sacrifices now to pay mortgages and educate their children will be able to make up for lost contributions in the future. This measure will help people better prepare for their retirement.

Canada's banking system has benefited greatly over the last couple of years enjoying record profits while most Canadians have been tightening their belts. The Minister of Finance has indicated that the special tax on banks will continue. As well, to maintain the present diversity of financial institutions, the government will uphold the ban on banks in the direct selling of insurance profits.

The budget is about hope and opportunity for the future. Measures taken will enable young people to get jobs they have been trained to perform. Seniors and those preparing to retire will be able to plan with confidence for their future incomes. Canadians in all walks of life will feel more secure and hopeful as they see the economy progressing forward with jobs and opportunities.

Most important, this budget is about trust. In 1993 the people of Canada put their trust in the Liberal Party to do things right and to get the economy moving again. I believe we have earned that trust and we will continue to earn it under the sound leadership of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance.

In conclusion I invite the government members, the official opposition and members of the third party to give speedy passage to Bill C-10 so that job creation can continue as promised in the budget.