The Budget  Even when told by their own Department of Finance that increasing CPP would harm jobs and the Canadian economy for over 20 years, the Liberals did not care and did so anyway. Establishing a national carbon tax, when none of our major trading partners are implementing one also, makes us less competitive. Again, it is no surprise why Canadian business investment is in decline. It is actually at the lowest level since 1981.

Finance committee  I certainly hope you get that, because it is so critical in attracting investment. In regard to carbon taxes, being a territory there is a slightly different arrangement. Given your population, and I'm sure many communities are diesel-dependent, have you looked to get an exemption from the carbon-pricing framework?

Finance committee  Have you decided whether or not you're going to use a cap-and-trade system, which I think would make it even more difficult for you to be competitive with other jurisdictions like Alaska or other economic development opportunities, or are you looking to do a carbon tax and then discuss redirecting some of those funds to get off diesel with the federal government?

Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement Implementation Act  Ontario's green policy is is giving rise to energy poverty and chasing away manufacturing industries. We must also realize that the United States does not have a carbon tax. The State of Washington recently voted against a carbon tax. Let us not fool ourselves. We have had a significant excise tax and GST on certain products like gas for quite some time.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, in its budget every year, British Columbia reports on its carbon tax. That is where I got this information about the cement industry. The member and many of the members on that side of the floor continue to deflect. I specifically ask this member to consider this when he goes home tonight.

Canada Pension Plan  The reason work is precarious is that employers do not have confidence. The Liberals have to understand that when they tell people they will be adding a carbon tax and payroll taxes, those taxes make it less attractive for people who want to hire, especially if they hear that the government and the Bank of Canada say they are downgrading the Government of Canada's economic outlook.

Business of Supply  Finally, let us seriously reconsider the promised billions in funding for other countries' climate change programs, when many of these countries do not themselves have a carbon tax to pay for their own projects. These are just a few examples, the point being to explore alternatives but not experiment with taxing Canadian employer-provided health care benefits or other important tax credits.

Canada Pension Plan  The government has also increased the cost of hiring new workers. It will be increasing their operating expenses as a result of a national carbon tax, and it has not followed through on its commitment to business tax cuts. It has done all of this at the same time that job numbers are looking bleak and our economic growth is being downgraded.

Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement Implementation Act  It is that member and his party who voted that down, and it is that member and his party who now support a carbon tax, which again is at odds. The Liberals say they want to work with provinces, but yet they impose mandatory carbon taxes that make our Canadian businesses less competitive internationally.

Finance committee  You're concerned about that, but we also have here in Ottawa a government that's adding payroll taxes, carbon taxes, and is making it more difficult for people to be able to get a home from which they can actually save money in the form of equity. We all know our homes are our biggest source of equity.

Budget Implementation Act, 2016, No. 2  I may no longer be the critic for internal trade, but I will point out that the government is willing to impose a national carbon tax on the provinces. How could it be afraid to elevate the Comeau decision of the Supreme Court and seek clarification that internal trade is the right of all Canadians? Not everyone supports international trade, but I have yet to meet someone, aside from, apparently, the Liberals, who does not support the principle of buying Canadian, and that means all Canadians in all jurisdictions.

Budget Implementation Act, 2016, No. 2  However, it is a terrible return for Canadians who will be left paying the bill. On top of that, they will be paying for a national Liberal carbon tax, all at a time when our largest trading partner and competitor is going to be lowering taxes to be more competitive and raising taxes on those companies moving outside of its borders.

Food and Drugs Act  Let us hope that this new-found support for trade will also extend into the government's agenda with more agreements announced in the near future. In particular, rather than trying to force a national carbon tax on Canadians that will only increase costs to the very middle class the government covets the support of, if the government has a mindset to force anything on Canadian provinces, I would suggest that instead of a carbon tax, how about a true inter-provincial trade agreement that recognizes that free trade within Canada is a right as guaranteed by section 121, the free trade clause within our Constitution?

Employment  However, they are being told by the Minister of Finance that they should get used to more precarious work. The Liberals cancelled the small business tax cuts. Increasing payroll and carbon taxes will make it harder for young workers to get their first job. Even if they are lucky enough to start working and to save what is left after they pay their student loans and these Liberal tax hikes, fewer now qualify for a mortgage.

Canada Pension Plan  Small businesses would pay for the CPP increase at the provincial level, at the federal level, at the local level, and then at the local level they would pay twice as much. This is a challenge. If we add on a carbon tax and all of the other things that the Liberal government is going to do, we may see less small business, and that is not good for our youth.