Hear, hear!
Evidence of meeting #70 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site.) The winning word was clauses.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #70 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site.) The winning word was clauses.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB
Last but not least, the interpreters—God bless you. I don't know how you do this job. I can barely get through English at this time of night, let alone try to sort out two languages at the pace that we speak and argue and so on and so forth. So a standing ovation to our interpreters, who deserve our respect and our utmost gratitude. Thank you very much on behalf of at least this side, and I'm sure my colleagues agree.
Conservative
Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB
In any event, my five minutes is probably almost done, but I do want to say that the government would like to see the short title stay, because it is reflective of what's in the bill.
Thank you again, Chair.
Thanks to everyone who stayed and took part.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Thank you, Ms. Glover.
I have indications from Ms. Nash that she will speak for a couple of minutes on the short title, and then there will be no comments on the title. Once a couple of minutes are done on the short title, then we can go to the title, and we'll actually finish tonight.
Is that acceptable? It's the same amount of time, so....
NDP
Wayne Marston NDP Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON
Yes. I thought we could do this tomorrow night, just to repeat.
Conservative
NDP
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
I want to make the point—and I know we've all been at this for a long time—that the short title of the bill, about jobs, growth, and long-term prosperity.... My colleague mentioned that so many other things are rolled up in this bill that don't pertain to finance or economic issues.
I also want to make the point that through this budget and the budget implementation act we've heard about $5.2 billion in cuts that the $20 million private agency has recommended, 19,200 public sector jobs. The Parliamentary Budget Officer says that when you add up previously announced cuts, we're looking at cuts of $10.8 billion and 26,800 jobs lost. That's 26,800 public sector jobs lost. These are services. These are programs Canadians need.
We've also heard the PBO and other witnesses talk about a drag on the economy. The point I'm making is that while the short title talks about jobs, growth, and prosperity, in fact the net impact of this budget implementation act will be the opposite: it will be a drag on our economy and it will slow our recovery. We have heard more witnesses talk about that.
I could go on about unemployment and about how between one in four and one in three of the net new jobs are going to temporary foreign workers, but I won't. I will save that for a speech in the House of Commons.
I think the short title of this bill has less to do with the reality and the impact of the bill and more to do with Conservative talking points. The two just don't add up. I really wanted to get that on the record.
Having said that, I want to thank the staff, the interpreters, the chair, and my colleagues for this time. It is unfortunate that we had to debate such weighty and substantive issues in such a rushed fashion.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, for allowing me that time.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Thank you, Ms. Nash.
I had indications Mr. Jean wanted a short word.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
If nothing is permitted to be said on the long title, because that's where I was—
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
I was holding out for a minute on the long title.
Conservative
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Shall the short title, which is the Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act, carry?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
The short title carries on division.
On the title, Mr. Jean, briefly.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Very briefly, Mr. Chair.
In a few days I will have been here for eight years. I've thoroughly enjoyed myself here, but I have to say that I disagree with Mr. Marston and Ms. Nash. I respect their positions, I truly do, as I do those of Scott Brison and the Liberal Party.
Clearly, in my mind, this is a budget that speaks right to the title itself. It is a title and a budget that deals with growth. In dealing with the environment it deals with growth and jobs. In relation to employment it deals with growth and jobs and the economy in relation to every page of the budget itself.
I think it's a great budget for Canadians and for our future. I'm very proud to stand behind it. I've been waiting eight years to do this.
On behalf of Mr. Hoback, I would like to say as well that this budget focuses on the economy like a laser. As I said, I think it's a great budget, and I'm very happy to be here to support this budget, including of course my favourite thing to see in the budget, which is, frankly, the elimination of Kyoto.
Thank you.
Conservative