House of Commons Hansard #21 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was referendum.

Topics

Canada Pension PlanOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. member for Repentigny.

Canadian International Trade TribunalOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Bloc

Benoît Sauvageau Bloc Repentigny, QC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance.

On July 22 of this year, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal ruled favourably on the Shan swimwear company's request for a removal of duties on European fabrics so that it could compete on an equal footing with Israeli manufacturers.

Is the minister going to help this company by assuming his responsibilities, standing up to the opposing lobbies and giving effect rapidly to the trade tribunal's ruling?

Canadian International Trade TribunalOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, as the member is well aware, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal has now received additional information and, since it is an independent body, has asked to review the file. The information came from other manufacturers located in Quebec.

KenyaOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Liberal

Jean Augustine Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Secretary of State for Latin America and Africa. Canadians read of violent crackdowns on political demonstrations in Kenya.

In light of upcoming elections could the secretary of state tell us what Canada has done to make clear our support for free and democratic elections for the Kenyan people?

KenyaOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Edmonton Southeast Alberta

Liberal

David Kilgour LiberalSecretary of State (Latin America and Africa)

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Etobicoke—Lakeshore for her serious question.

All Canadians along with the member share concern about the violence that occurred in Kenya and are very anxious, as is the government, that it not occur again.

I was in Nairobi last month where I discussed election issues with a number of officials in the government, including MPs from all parties. There is a basis for hope that the elections when they are held, which must before the end of December, will be violence free and will be free and proper.

Canada Pension PlanOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Reform

Monte Solberg Reform Medicine Hat, AB

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have seen their standard of living eroded in the last few years primarily because of tax increases. We know the government has said absolutely no to tax relief but it has said a big yes to tax hikes in the form of the $700 increase to CPP premiums, double that if you are self-employed.

So what are Canadians supposed to do? Are they supposed to eat a little less every month to save some money? Are they supposed to skip their mortgage payments, maybe take the kids out of hockey?

Will the finance minister tell Canadians, with the highest personal income taxes in the G-7, just where the money is supposed to come from for the $700 CPP tax hike?

Canada Pension PlanOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, once again, one really has to look at the adequacy of the research department for the Reform Party. The fact of the matter is the net worth of Canadian households is up. The fact is what the Reform Party has not done is tell the Canadian people what it would do with the very large liability that is owed to those Canadians who are currently retired or those Canadians who are currently working and putting money into the Canada pension plan.

As things currently stand there are only one or two alternatives. Either Reformers are suggesting a 13% premium versus 9.9% or they would renege on the commitments to Canadians—

Canada Pension PlanOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. member for Medicine Hat.

Canada Pension PlanOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Reform

Monte Solberg Reform Medicine Hat, AB

Mr. Speaker, we just want to thank the minister for that firsthand report from fantasy land. I do not blame him for being a little ashamed about that 1.8% return under his own plan.

For many people this is no laughing matter. They are going to have to dramatically cut their own standards of living to pay for the minister's Ponzi scheme. He has ruled out substantial tax relief in the short run.

Again, where does he expect people to get the money from to pay for his plan? Where are they going to get the money?

Canada Pension PlanOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, this is an important debate for Canadians.

What the Reform Party is talking about doing is destroying the Canada pension plan. Its members have a responsibility to tell Canadians, those who are currently contributing to the plan, those who rely on it, what Reform will do with about $600 billion liability.

Reform members have a responsibility to put their cards on the table and not engage in a bunch of fearmongering.

EducationOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Nelson Riis NDP Kamloops, BC

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance will know that the Harris government has turned its back on the province's students, creating havoc in the provincial educational system as a result of draconian cuts to the funding of education.

Would the minister not agree that it is the federal Liberal government that is responsible for the mindset of tax cut downloading that is hurting Ontario's students today?

EducationOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member, a member of Parliament with considerable experience, will know that there were reductions in transfers, in Ontario's case, of close to a billion dollars. That is 25% of the $4.9 billion cut that the Conservative Government of Ontario has brought in and, as a result of which, is closing hospitals and shutting down schools.

That is precisely the difference between ourselves and the Reform Party. Of course we want to cut taxes, but we are not prepared to cut health care. We are not prepared to cut education. We are not prepared to—

EducationOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. member for Kamloops.

EducationOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Nelson Riis NDP Kamloops, BC

Mr. Speaker, I could not agree with the Minister of Finance more. As a result of the mindless decision to cut taxes in the province of Ontario, the result has been the complete abandonment of its young people who are students who want to study.

Will the Minister of Finance stand up and show that he stands behind what he actually says, speak out against the Harris government and join us on the picket lines tomorrow to stand shoulder to shoulder with the students and teachers of this province?

EducationOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows full well that the government is not going to engage in commenting on what goes on in individual provinces.

The fact is that to the best of my knowledge, when the Government of Saskatchewan was shutting down hospitals we did not make a lot of comment about that. Perhaps we should have.

There is one thing that we will do. We are going to protect Canadians. We are going to protect low income Canadians. We are going to invest in the things they want.

That is why the line in the sand is drawn between this side of the House and that side of the House. We are going to protect the basic social fabric and the values—

EducationOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. member for Cumberland—Colchester.

HighwaysOral Question Period

October 27th, 1997 / 2:45 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Bill Casey Progressive Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport. The Prime Minister recently wrote me a letter, trying to explain the convoluted, screwball, highway toll deal in Nova Scotia.

I appreciate the Prime Minister's effort but he is all wrong, including the statement that says $60.9 million was provided by Atlantic Highways Corporation. In fact, it did not provide that. They are getting paid it. They are not putting it in. The Prime Minister also said that it was a public-private partnership, which it is not.

If the Prime Minister and his staff cannot understand this convoluted deal, how can the people of Nova Scotia understand it?

My question for the Minister of Transport is—

HighwaysOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

The Speaker

Second question.

HighwaysOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Bill Casey Progressive Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS

Mr. Speaker, in respect to the convoluted deal, my question is still will the minister announce today a federal-provincial agreement to replace that?

Also, will the minister address the fact that the chief investigator of the federal competition bureau and the auditor general are reviewing the issue.

HighwaysOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. Minister of Transport.

HighwaysOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Don Valley East Ontario

Liberal

David Collenette LiberalMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, unlike the member's question, I will give an non-convoluted answer. No.

PensionsOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Liberal

Alex Shepherd Liberal Durham, ON

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance.

With respect to the Canada-U.S. tax treaty, over 80,000 seniors receiving the U.S. social security pension have seen their incomes drop by more than 25%. Many of these are low income seniors.

What is the government doing to get this money back into the hands of those who need relief now?

PensionsOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, the member for Durham has been a fervent advocate of changes to the Canada-U.S. treaty, as indeed have a number of other members in the House, changes which would bring needed relief to tens of thousands of low and middle income Canadians. As he also knows, and as the House knows, our bill is currently on schedule and will be before the House in due time.

Although the bill is not yet on the floor of the U.S. Senate, we have heard encouraging news. The U.S. Senate foreign relations committee has recommended to the Senate that it pass the—

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Reform

Darrel Stinson Reform Okanagan—Shuswap, BC

Mr. Speaker, today the joint environmental review panel released its decision on the routes of the Sable Island gas pipeline: through New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and not Quebec.

Will the government commit today to letting this impartial decision stand and promise not to let Liberal politics weigh in any decision?

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board

Mr. Speaker, the joint panel report was released at about noon today. The government has obviously only just received it. We are in the process of reviewing all of its recommendations, some 46 in total.

It is our intention to give the report very careful consideration and respond within the appropriate timeframe. We want to ensure that whatever decision is taken is taken on a sound, proper, legal basis.