House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 58% of the vote.
The Economy March 19th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, our Conservative government is focused on what matters to Canadians. That is jobs and economic growth. That is why economic action plan 2013 is a plan to support jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity, while keeping taxes low and returning to balanced budgets.
I am pleased to request the designation of an order of the day to present the economic action plan, budget 2013, on Thursday, March 21, at 4:00 in the afternoon.
Intergovernmental Relations March 19th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, it is true that I corresponded with my caucus colleagues. They have worked very hard, all of them, in consulting with people across the country and in their constituencies, including with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, to make sure that the initiatives that are in the budget will meet the needs of Canadians come Thursday. As I say, be patient. Only two more sleeps.
Intergovernmental Relations March 19th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, here is the practical “alternative budget”, as it is called by the NDP. The NDP finance critic was asked whether it was costed. She said: “I'm not going to...say here's the price tag because I think it's a shift in approach.... [W]e have not costed out specifics in terms of this campaign”.
Talk about irresponsibility with taxpayers' money—to bring forward something called an “alternative” budget with no numbers. There will be numbers on Thursday. I encourage the member to wait just two more sleeps.
Financial Institutions March 5th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, in fact we heard the concerns of small business and introduced the code of conduct with the support of retailers, consumers and small business, and we have updated the code from time to time. It is working and is accomplishing the goals that were set by consumers, by small business and by the retailers.
The Budget March 5th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I will not get into the discussions I have had with other finance ministers on specific subjects.
We have consulted very broadly from coast to coast to coast. We are still consulting in preparation of the budget. We look forward to delivering the budget in due course. There will be initiatives in the budget which will promote jobs, growth and long-term prosperity.
The Budget March 5th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I am sorry to disappoint the member opposite. I will try to do better.
The report is by partisan Liberals who used to work, I guess before my time, at the Department of Finance.
The non-partisan C.D. Howe Institute did provide a detailed report showing that our government has been the most transparent government in Canada.
The Budget March 5th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, as I said, this is a partisan report by Liberals. One of them is a very well-known Liberal. The other one is less well-known. In February 2008, when I asked the Liberal Party to tell me who they would like to send to the budget lock-up, his name appeared on the list. Therefore, I do not worry about the impartiality of it because it is not impartial.
The fact is that we have consulted more, disclosed more and provided more information than any other government with respect to budgetary matters.
The Budget March 5th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the report that the hon. member references is a partisan report by Liberals.
Since 2006, we have consulted more than any other government with respect to budgetary matters, including online consultations, which we were the first government to start back in 2006.
We also do quarterly financial reports. We created the Federal Accountability Act of Parliament. Both provide more financial information than ever before.
We will continue to consult broadly and report to Parliament through the budgetary process.
Employment Insurance March 5th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, our government is consulting with Canadians from coast to coast to coast in preparation for economic action plan 2013, the budget, which will include positive initiatives to create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity.
I will not speculate on the contents of the budget other than that.
Government Accountability February 26th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, FINTRAC is an independent arm's-length agency and specific questions should go to FINTRAC.
However, FINTRAC did take action immediately when this occurred, which I believe was in November. It hardly kept things secret. It called the local police. It called the Privacy Commissioner. As I have already said, it contacted all of the affected businesses and individuals.