Joe Oliver

[Business of Supply, May 14th, 2014]

Mr. Chair, I do not have a direct answer to that question, but we can provide an estimate for the hon. member if he would like.

[Business of Supply, May 14th, 2014]

Mr. Chair, while many sectors of the economy and regions of the country have skilled job shortages, too many people remain unemployed. Many employers continue to identify the shortage of skilled labour as an impediment to growth. To overcome this challenge, our economic action plan 2013 announced the reform of the three major labour market transfers to provinces and territories in order to transform support for skills training and help to ensure that federal funding responds to the hiring needs of employers. We have made significant progress toward meeting this goal.

First, the core labour market agreements are being reformed with the introduction of the Canada job grant. They are accordingly being renamed the Canada job fund. This will encourage greater employer participation in skills training decisions and ensure that training is better aligned with job opportunities, particularly in sectors facing skills mismatches and labour shortages.

Agreements in principle have been reached with all provinces and territories on the delivery of the Canada jobs grant, which is expected to be available to Canadian employers by July 1 of this year. Including employers' contributions, the grant could provide up to $15,000 per person toward training costs for a new or better job.

Second, the longstanding labour market agreements for persons with disabilities are being reformed to ensure federal funding supports programing that better helps Canadians with disabilities to obtain the skills they need to fill available jobs. These new agreements will require all jurisdictions to set up a formal process to engage employers and disability community organizers in identifying key labour market barriers and opportunities for persons with disabilities and set corresponding priorities for programing. This will not only support better employment prospects for persons with disabilities, but it will also better meet the employment needs of businesses.

We are also working to reform the $1.95 billion a year labour market development agreements with all provinces and territories to reorient training toward labour market demand, as we have with the other federal labour market transfers. Taken together, these renewed labour market agreements will be fundamental in helping to better connect Canadians with available jobs and advance our record of achievement in creating jobs and growth.

We are also taking significant action to that end outside the agreements. For example, our government is creating the Canada apprentice loan to help registered apprentices with the cost of their training. We will also improve the employment insurance system to ensure those on EI will receive more up-to-date information. We are also investing in an enhanced job matching service to ensure that Canadians are given the first chance at available jobs that match their skills in their local area. We are reforming the temporary foreign worker program to ensure that Canadians get the first crack at available jobs and employers hiring temporary foreign workers have a plan to transition to the Canadian workforce.

These are important areas where our Conservative government is making real progress in helping connect Canadians with available jobs, while advancing our record of achievement in supporting jobs and growth. So while the opposition continues to vote against every one of these job creating measures, our government will stay the course and focus on what matters to Canadians.

[Business of Supply, May 14th, 2014]

Mr. Chair, as I was saying, we have taken a number of steps to reduce the tax compliance burden for Canadian businesses.

We are amending the Canada-Ontario tax collection agreement to provide for federal administration of Ontario's corporate taxes and implementing administrative and service improvements by the Canada Revenue Agency.

We have made tangible progress in implementing the red tape reduction action plan, including the one-for-one rule. We have already saved Canadian businesses 98,000 hours in time spent dealing with red tape.

We have frozen EI premiums for three years.

We have fostered an innovative economy by providing more than $11 billion in new resources to support basic and applied research talent development, research infrastructure, and innovative ideas.

[Business of Supply, May 14th, 2014]

Mr. Chair, as I said, we have taken a number of steps to produce tax relief for Canadian businesses by reducing the general federal corporate tax to 15% from over 22%, eliminating the federal capital tax, reducing small business rates to 11%, and increasing the amount of eligible income for the lower rate to $400,000 in 2007 and then to $500,000 in 2009. We have increased the lifetime capital gains exemption for qualifying small businesses shares to $750,000. We have taken steps to reduce the compliance burden on businesses by reducing the frequency of various tax filings, eliminating retail sales taxes in Ontario and P.E.I. in harmonization with the—

[Business of Supply, May 14th, 2014]

Mr. Chair, we have reduced the tax on small business to 11% and we have taken other measures that help small business, which is why the Canadian Federation of Independent Business is so supportive of the actions of our government. Keeping taxes low is precisely what small businesses need. Avoiding increases in EI rates is another important factor in protecting jobs across the country.

[Business of Supply, May 14th, 2014]

Mr. Chair, the small business sector is extraordinarily important because it generates more employment than any other sector.

We are working with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business to look at these important issues. We have made regulations on credit agreements, including lines of credit and credit cards, and these rules limit business practices that are not beneficial to consumers. They require provision of clear and timely information to Canadians about credit products.

We are working with small business to make sure that the impact on small business is appropriate with the competitive circumstances.

[Business of Supply, May 14th, 2014]

Mr. Chair, as I have said, Canadian consumers deserve access to credit on fair and transparent terms. That is why we have taken action to protect Canadians using credit cards by strengthening the position of credit card users by imposing mandatory 21-day interest-free grace periods on credit cards, banning unsolicited credit card checks, and requiring consent for credit limit increases. We are better protecting Canadians using pre-paid credit cards with increased transparency and new consumer protection rules and are banning fees for the first year.

Our government also takes the issue of fraud and consumer protection very seriously.

[Business of Supply, May 14th, 2014]

Mr. Chair, she is asking the Minister of Finance questions that have very detailed answers. I can tell her about the government's policy.

The government is concerned about high credit card acceptance costs. We heard the concerns of small businesses in Canada. That is why we created a code of conduct. It has been applauded by consumers and industry groups, especially small businesses. We continually monitor compliance with the rules, and we work with small businesses and consumers to ensure that these two groups are heard.

[Business of Supply, May 14th, 2014]

Mr. Chair, in 2010, we introduced new consumer protection rules. We mandated a minimum 21-day interest-free grace period on all credit card purchases. If a cardholder pays less than the full balance owing, card issuers must allocate payments to the balance with the highest interest rate first or distribute the payments based on the relative proportion of each. In addition, the cardholder's consent is required for credit limit increases.

[Business of Supply, May 14th, 2014]

Mr. Chair, we live in Canada, not the United Kingdom. If the hon. member wants that information, we can do the research and give her an answer.