Debates of Sept. 25th, 1998

Employment Insurance

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, I welcome this opportunity and other opportunities to clarify the situation.

In spite of the incredible fiscal challenges that our government has faced, in the last budget where we achieved a balance we also began the process of overall income tax reduction.

We took 400,000 low income Canadians totally off the income tax rolls. For 13 million out of 14 million Canadian taxpayers, there were reduced taxes including the elimination of the surtax for all those with incomes—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Prince George—Bulkley Valley.

[Dick Harris, Reform, Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government is talking utter nonsense when it talks about the tax reductions it has put into force.

As a matter of fact, since 1993 the Liberals brought in 39 individual different tax increases. They ripped an additional $30 billion off Canadians in tax increases and they have taken $8 billion out of health care and education. How can they stand up and talk like that?

My question is for the finance minister. Regarding the $6 billion surplus that he cannot have, why is he so intent in scooping it? Is it for his own political—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Laval Centre.

[Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral, Bloc, Laval Centre, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development.

Everyone knows he is ultimately responsible for the use made of the employment insurance fund.

Since the minister has already abdicated his responsibilities with respect to the Canada Pension Plan, can he, from his seat, assure people that he will never allow his colleague in finance to misappropriate the surplus in the employment insurance fund?

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, it is really a matter of choice—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

The secretary of state has the floor if he wishes to continue.

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is obviously a matter of political choice, and our choice has been the following: balanced policy, including paying down the debt, reducing taxes and investing in the future of Canadians with transfers and social programs for the disabled and for high tech.

[Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral, Bloc, Laval Centre, QC]

Mr. Speaker, are we to understand that the minister is unable to defend his portfolio, that he is too weak in cabinet to defend those who are counting on him and that, in the end, he is the press secretary to the secretary of state of the Minister of Finance?

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, the member is mistaken. She is really mistaken.

The minister is one of the strongest and most respected individuals. He enjoys the confidence of all his colleagues and all Canadians.

[Ken Epp, Reform, Elk Island, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have a question about the employment insurance fund.

Current premium revenue is double what is paid in benefits, giving a surplus of almost $1 billion per month. It is clearly against the Employment Insurance Act for the minister to be taking this money. It belongs to the workers and employers of this country. Why does he not just obey the law?

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, I guess it is a question of what one's political priorities are.

Unlike the official opposition, we are prepared to adopt for the benefit of all Canadians from coast to coast on all different levels of means a capacity to compete in the future economy of this country to invest in their future. We are prepared to say that the future of this country depends on the quality of education available to our young people. We are prepared to say that a good health system is critical—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Calgary Southeast.

[Jason Kenney, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, is this not interesting. The secretary of state's idea of investing in the future is to impose the highest personal tax burden in the G-7 with a 16% youth unemployment rate and running a $1 billion monthly surplus in the EI fund to subsidize wasteful spending by this government. The premier of Ontario calls it stealing. Every major business group in the country—

[The Speaker]

Colleagues, I have appealed to you today. The language being used is not parliamentary. We cannot use words in parliament that we say other people use outside. I would ask, with respect, the hon. member to withdraw the word “stealing”. Would he do that?

[Jason Kenney, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I will withdraw the word.

The premier of Ontario says that this is misappropriation.

I want to ask the hon. member, when is he and his government going to follow the law instead of trying to change the law to suit their political agenda to squeeze more tax dollars out of Canadians?

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, we do follow the law.

The member mentioned personal income taxes. Last year we began the process of continuing personal income tax deductions taking 400,000 Canadians off the rolls and reducing them for 13 million out of 14 million taxpayers. The finance minister and the Prime Minister have announced that we will continue that course of reducing income taxes.

Let me also say that the member knows quite well that the payroll taxes in Canada are the lowest in the G-7.

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski—Mitis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development.

The minister is in the House. Does he have the courage to stand up in this House and tell us—

[The Speaker]

We all have the courage to ask questions and to answer them. I would ask the hon. member to please put her question.

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski—Mitis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, is the Minister of Human Resources Development prepared to stand in his place and promise to defend workers, employers and the unemployed, and not abdicate his responsibilities as he did with the Canada pension plan?

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, I can assure you that I have no intention of abdicating my responsibilities, quite the contrary. My priority is to ensure that employment insurance continues to meet the needs of the unemployed across Canada.

It is important that the government discuss the issue of the surplus in the EI fund in conjunction with all of this country's social programs. Canadians want and deserve a social safety net that is sustainable, strong and flexible, and there is no doubt that employment insurance is at the heart of our discussions and concerns.

Veterans Affairs

[David Pratt, Liberal, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Veterans Affairs.

The Canadian merchant navy played a critical role during the second world war in assuring the allied victory. Yet two merchant mariners have indicated that they intend to go on a hunger strike outside the parliament buildings in order to receive compensation they feel they are owed.

Can the Minister of Veterans Affairs indicate to the House what he intends to do with respect to this proposed hunger strike?

[Fred Mifflin, Liberal, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)]

Mr. Speaker, I met with the two veterans, Mr. Pope and Mr. McLean, shortly after they arrived on the steps of the parliament buildings. I had a good discussion with them. I promised them and committed to them any creature comforts they might need as they embark on this particular voyage.

I assured them that the legislation that was passed in 1992 was not retroactive and that merchant navy veterans receive exactly and precisely the same benefits that those in uniform receive right now.

Furthermore we will be passing omnibus legislation this fall which will remove any doubt that merchant navy veterans will have regarding their status for the key contribution to the freedom and democracy of this country that we exercise in the House every day.

Environment

[Rick Casson, Reform, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, this week a report prepared for Health Canada was released and it had dire indications in it or drastic consequences for the good people of Cape Breton.

According to the report, Sydney residents have the highest cancer rate in Canada and no small wonder because in their backyards they have the worst toxic mess in North America and possibly in the world.

My question is for the Minister of Environment. Will she promise the people of Cape Breton suffering from the effects of the toxic mess the resources needed to clean up this disaster?