House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 65% of the vote.
The Budget February 16th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, my question was whether or not that was still the objective. My second supplementary question is for the Prime Minister.
The government has stated time and time again that job creation is its highest priority and that its economic policies should be judged first and foremost on their impact on jobs.
Is this still the government's highest priority, the one that Canadians should have in mind when they analyse the job impact of the budget next week?
The Budget February 16th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I have a supplementary question for the Prime Minister.
The government has implied that it wants to broaden the tax base to achieve greater equity but not to increase the total tax burden on Canadians. Is this still the primary objective of the government's tax policy, the objective that Canadians should have in mind when they analyse the tax changes in the budget next week?
The Budget February 16th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.
The government said previously said that its target for deficit reduction is to get the deficit to 3 per cent of GDP or down to about $23 billion for 1996-97.
Is this still the government's deficit target, the target that Canadians should have in mind when they read the deficit figures in the budget next week?
Government Expenditures February 15th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I have a further supplementary question. Perhaps we will get further this time.
The Auditor General points out that federal revenues from user fees, from government facilities, services and goods exceed
$3 billion annually but that these fees are not subject to regulatory review or parliamentary scrutiny.
Would the Prime Minister direct the Treasury Board to provide Parliament with a government-wide summary of user fees being charged, the revenues raised and the authorities under which they are established?
Government Expenditures February 15th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I have a supplementary question for the Prime Minister.
As the Prime Minister knows, over 70 per cent of the net expenditures of the government are statutory expenditures and not voted on annually by the House.
Would the Prime Minister consent to bring the review of statutory spending within the purview of the House and its committees on an annual basis?
Government Expenditures February 15th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.
As new members we have now sat through numerous government briefings in which we have been presented with departmental and program mission statements, mandate statements and statements of objective. We notice that very few of these statements contain any reference to the serious financial position of the government or the interests of taxpayers.
Would the Prime Minister, this week, direct all departmental program and agency heads to revise their mission statements to include deficit reduction and maximizing benefits to taxpayers as explicit goals of every department, program and agency of the Government of Canada?
Cigarette Smuggling February 10th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I have a further supplementary question for the Prime Minister. I thank him for the straightforward answers.
The third question is on the health dimension. Does the government acknowledge that the credibility of the minister and the ministry of health has been damaged by the acquiescence to the reduction of taxes on cigarettes and how does the government propose to restore the credibility of that department, particularly with the provincial governments?
Cigarette Smuggling February 10th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I have a supplementary question for the Prime Minister.
Did the federal government secure, perhaps through the meetings yesterday, the active support of the leaders and people of the Mohawk communities of Akwesasne, Kanesatake and Kahnawake for its action plan on smuggling?
Cigarette Smuggling February 10th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Prime Minister concerning the problems that threaten the success of the government's action plan on smuggling.
First, how does the federal government propose to get the co-operation of the eight provincial governments which currently oppose the tax reduction aspects of the program?
Cigarette Smuggling February 9th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I have a further supplementary question. I appreciate meetings with chiefs, but there is a difference between meeting with chiefs and rank and file members.
I am wondering whether the Prime Minister agrees that the re-establishment of democracy on these reserves is a prerequisite to re-establishing the supremacy of law. Has the government considered instituting a formal democratic process on these reserves whereby rank and file Indian people would have an opportunity to indicate by secret ballot which measures they believe would be successful in re-establishing the supremacy of Canadian law?