Michael Ignatieff

[The Budget, March 20th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the government's own budget admits that lagging productivity is “the principal domestic risk” facing the Canadian economy, but the government has no plan. New funding to help Canadians send their kids to college has been postponed. Initiatives to help new Canadians get the job training they need have been back ended. There is nothing in the budget to help aboriginal Canadians get on their feet.

Why has the government failed to address what its own budget calls the chief risk facing the jobs of ordinary Canadian families?

[Afghanistan, March 19th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, when the minister was questioned in this House about the investigation by the Military Police Complaints Commission, he stated, “—I do not interfere with, nor will ever interfere with, any investigative process”.

Now his department is contesting the commission's jurisdiction.

Why did the minister mislead this House by stating that he would support this investigation when he knew very well that his department was plotting to derail it?

[Afghanistan, March 19th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the role of the Red Cross is not the only issue on which the minister is misleading Canadians.

Last week we learned that the Minister of National Defence was challenging the jurisdiction of the Military Police Complaints Commission to investigate alleged abuse of detainees in Afghanistan. The minister's action contradicts the commitment made in the House, “there are three investigations going on. We are not going to interfere with those investigations”.

Why did the minister mislead the House saying he would not interfere when he is interfering?

[Immigration and Refugee Board, March 1st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I will try again. The Immigration and Refugee Board is the last resort for those facing deportation. The qualifications of the members have to come before all political interests. This Prime Minister wants to control the board with his supporters.

Why does this Prime Minister not respect the independence of our institutions? Why is he trying to recreate them in his own image?

[Immigration and Refugee Board, March 1st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, if that is cleaning up the mess, then the Prime Minister will have to explain why six members of the immigration board, including a career civil servant, saw fit to resign rather than to serve further under this regime.

When the Prime Minister stacked the judicial appointment committees, the legal community rang the alarm bell, but he did not listen. Now members of the Immigration and Refugee Board have stepped down. Again, the Prime Minister will not listen.

This is not leadership. This is bullying. It is not governing. It is campaigning, campaigning to--

[Ukrainian Canadians, March 1st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, on November 25, 2005, under the previous Liberal government, an act to acknowledge that persons of Ukrainian origin were interned in Canada during the first world war and to provide for recognition of this event received royal assent.

The objectives of the statute include promoting a better public understanding of the consequences of ethnic, religious or racial intolerance and the important role of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The statute provides for negotiations to take place between the Government of Canada and Ukrainian Canadian organizations in respect of measures that may be taken to recognize the internment.

It has been well over a year since this important bill became law and the government has not lived up to its commitments. It is high time the government takes action and ensures that Canadians never forget what happened to Ukrainian Canadians.

[Petitions, March 1st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition to table from my constituents calling upon Parliament to reinstate funding to literacy programs cut by the Conservative government.

The petitioners note the importance of literacy for social and economic development. They emphasize the need to help the 38% of Canadians who have difficulties reading and writing. They also recognize that illiteracy costs Canadian society $10 billion a year and that eliminating illiteracy is a key component to ensuring Canadian competitiveness.

Together with my constituents of Etobicoke—Lakeshore, I call upon the government to reinstate literacy funding and to undertake a national literacy strategy to ensure that all Canadians have the opportunity to acquire the critical life skills of reading and writing.

[Taxation, February 28th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, every taxpayer knows that what the Prime Minister has just said is false.

Dale Orr, an eminent economist who is often consulted by the Conservatives, has said that millions of people with low and moderate incomes are, and I quote, "losers" under the Conservatives' tax plan.

When will the Prime Minister be honest with Canadians and tell them that he has raised taxes for people with low and moderate incomes?

[Taxation, February 28th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, in the run-up to the budget, the Prime Minister simply cannot be trusted to tell the country the truth about income tax. He continues to deny that he raised income taxes but Canadians know very well that he increased taxes for the lowest paid.

Economist, Dale Orr, said today that the first priority for the Conservatives on personal income tax should be “to bring the system back to where it would have been had the Liberals won the election instead of the Conservatives”.

Why is the Prime Minister continuing to deceive Canadians by saying one thing and doing the opposite?

[Taxation, February 28th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, nothing--