Glenn Thibeault

[Consumer Protection, October 21st, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, CBC's Marketplace has identified the dumbest charges that Canadian consumers pay: ATM fees, pay-to-pay fees, airline fees, and touch-tone fees. However, every time we raise the issue, the response is the same. The minister crosses his fingers, hoping for corporate knights in shining armour to ride in with voluntary codes and save the day.

The minister knows, just as Canadians know, that this is not happening. Why the failure to stop companies from charging these dumb fees? When will the government stop the nickel and diming of Canadians?

[Consumer Protection, October 20th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, today marks the beginning of small business week, the economic engines of our communities. Despite throne speech commitments by the Conservative government to crack down on credit card processing fees, one year later, small and medium-sized businesses are still being gouged.

The Minister of Finance will not get results by crossing his fingers and closing his eyes hoping for voluntary measures by this industry. Will the government finally agree to support the NDP's plan and bring down the cost of processing credit card fees?

[Iraq, October 8th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the word flip-flop gets overused sometimes, but in the case of the Liberal Party and Iraq, we have seen so many flip-flops, five of them actually, we have had to coin a new word, the “fifth-flop”.

On September 9, the Liberals' foreign affairs critic announced full support for the special forces mission. Two days later, the Liberal leader said that he would not rule out air strikes. The next week he declared that the Liberals would not support combat. However, later the same day he said that he might support combat if the Prime Minister answered questions.

By October 6, the critic was saying that the Liberals were open to a military mission “of a non-combat nature”. Then yesterday he said that the Liberals would support the combat mission after the mission passed the House.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration is making up stories about weapons of mass destruction, the Minister of Foreign Affairs is unable to give details about the mission and the Prime Minister cannot even give a straight answer about how many soldiers are on the ground.

Are members confused? So are Canadians, and Canadians deserve better.

[Petitions, October 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to present a petition signed by hundreds of members of my great riding of Sudbury. They too are calling upon the federal government to create a national dementia strategy. These citizens would very much like this House to pass Bill C-356, an act respecting a National Strategy for Dementia, moved by my colleague from Nickel Belt. Therefore, I am happy to present this petition.

[Consumer Protection, October 6th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, that question was about small businesses, so let us try that again. Let us see if the minister can understand this.

Small and medium-sized businesses are the heart of our economy, but the government has ignored skyrocketing credit card processing fees that SMEs are paying. Canadian businesses have been waiting too long for the government to take action. Even back in the summer of 2013, the Competition Tribunal, in a rare move, called for a regulatory framework.

With Small Business Week fast approaching, will the Conservatives finally regulate credit card processing fees? Why has the government failed to act on this file?

[Petitions, October 2nd, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I very honoured to rise today and present petitions on behalf of citizens from the great city of Sudbury and also from my great riding of Sudbury.

The petitioners are calling on the government to look at a national dementia strategy. There are many points that are highlighted in this petition.

The petitioners are calling for the Minister of Health and this House to look at passing the private member's bill from my hon. colleague from Nickel Belt, Bill C-356.

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, September 15th, 2014]

With regard to uncollected fines and administrative monetary penalties: broken down by fiscal year and offence, since 2005-2006, up to and including the current fiscal year, (a) what is the total amount collected by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada under the National Fine Recovery Program; and (b) what is the total amount of unpaid fines that has yet to be collected by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada under the National Fine Recovery Program?

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, September 15th, 2014]

With regard to the promotion of Canada's travel and tourism sector: broken down by fiscal year since 2005-2006 up to and including the current fiscal year, (a) what is the total amount spent by the government on advertising; (b) what is the total amount spent in foreign markets, broken down by individual market; (c) what is the total amount spent on print advertising, broken down by individual market; (d) what is the total amount spent on television advertising, broken down by individual market; (e) what is the total amount spent on radio advertising, broken down by individual market; (f) what is the total spending by the government for online or web advertising; and (g) what is the total amount spent on advertising through (i) Facebook, (ii) Twitter, (iii) Google?

[Questions on the Order Paper, September 15th, 2014]

With regard to the Hiring Credit for Small Business, since 2011-2012: broken down by fiscal year up to and including the current fiscal year, (a) what is the total cost of the Hiring Credit for Small Business; (b) what is the total number of small businesses that successfully accessed the hiring credit; and (c) what was the average tax savings for small business owners who successfully accessed the hiring credit?

[Red Tape Reduction Act, September 15th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity as the small business critic to meet with many of the co-operative organizations across the country that want to be more engaged by the government. They want to be active participants. They are active participants in the economy, but they are not perceived or seen by the Conservative government as contributors.

When we talk about proposals for small businesses, such as the youth hiring tax credit, the elimination and reduction of a lot of the merchant fees, ensuring that people can transfer their businesses from family member to family member without having to go through all of the taxes that come with that, the government refuses to listen. We are proposing ideas that will help save small businesses and co-operatives money now and keep the money in their pockets. By doing that, they will reinvest in their businesses and co-operatives and bring more people in together.

I think of Eat Local, which is a great food co-operative in Sudbury. It is getting more and more members now who continue to invest in the business. As they invest in the business, more and more small businesses go into the small business. What happens? We create jobs and we grow the economy.