House of Commons Hansard #2 of the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was canada's.

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Financial Statement of Minister of FinanceThe BudgetGovernment Orders

5 p.m.

Bloc

Jean-Yves Laforest Bloc Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC

Mr. Speaker, in this time of economic crisis, we expected the federal government to consider the needs expressed by the people of Quebec and their elected representatives. In anticipation of this budget, Quebec was very clear about its needs, and the National Assembly unanimously adopted a motion in that regard. The Bloc Québécois acted responsibly by presenting a detailed, costed, realistic plan last November. Our plan addresses major points of consensus in Quebec, and our role is to stand up for those points here in Ottawa.

The Conservative government decided not to take Quebec's demands into consideration. Moreover, instead of helping Quebec, the government decided to deny it the tools it needs to face the crisis. Instead, the Conservative leader decided to give in to the demands of Ontario and the west. For example, the government has put forward nearly $4 billion worth of measures chiefly benefiting Ontario. The auto sector—which is concentrated in Ontario—will receive $2.7 billion. Southern Ontario will receive a billion dollars, which happens to be the amount deducted from Quebec's equalization payments. The manufacturing sector will get nothing but crumbs.

I would like to ask the minister what happened to the Conservative government's supposed openness to Quebec and Quebeckers, who also have to make it through this crisis?

Financial Statement of Minister of FinanceThe BudgetGovernment Orders

5:05 p.m.

Conservative

Jim Flaherty Conservative Whitby—Oshawa, ON

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for his question. I hope that the member will support the economic action plan. We are facing a worldwide recession.

With respect to the question of transfers, this budget is rather different than what went on in the 1990s. What we have done is not reduced transfers to the provinces. We are maintaining the health transfer increase at 6%. We are maintaining the CST at 3%. We are not imposing on the provinces in terms of health or education because in a time of recession they need to maintain those services. Those services and the federal contributions are being maintained.

Financial Statement of Minister of FinanceThe BudgetGovernment Orders

5:05 p.m.

NDP

Chris Charlton NDP Hamilton Mountain, ON

Mr. Speaker, for a week now government ministers have leaked budget proposals and said “trust us”. Today's budget just proved that they cannot be trusted to deliver.

In this economy, when workers are worried about losing their jobs, the government just announced that it prioritized $60 billion in corporate tax cuts and it found only $1.15 billion for the unemployed. Clearly, the leopard could not change its spots. This government still cannot be trusted to act on the concerns of hard-working Canadians.

Let us look at it in more detail. This budget fails to reform employment insurance; it does not freeze weekly rates; it maintains the two-week waiting period; and it does not improve eligibility requirements. There is absolutely no commitment to child care spaces. This budget maintains the attack on women's rights to pursue pay equity complaints. There are absolutely no initiatives for veterans or seniors by increasing old age security. Infrastructure commitments remain out of reach for most municipalities that simply cannot match the funds. There is absolutely no strategy for a green car industry.

Yes, this government is full of rhetoric, but rhetoric is not real change and Canadians deserve better.

Would the minister tell us why hard-working Canadians should trust him this time when they have not been able to trust him since he has come into office?

Financial Statement of Minister of FinanceThe BudgetGovernment Orders

5:05 p.m.

Conservative

Jim Flaherty Conservative Whitby—Oshawa, ON

Mr. Speaker, we conducted one of the most extensive broad consultations in the history of Canada in the preparation of this budget. The measures in the budget that relate to employment insurance are what we were told was necessary by Canadians from coast to coast to coast: to extend benefits and, most important, to ensure that retraining is available and to make sure that work sharing is available, so that as we go through this difficult time together as Canadians we will take care of those Canadians who will be moving into new industries. We want to ensure they get the training they need in order to accomplish that.

That is what we can do for our fellow Canadians, including WITB, the working income tax benefit, which I certainly hope the member opposite would support because it helps the poorest people in our society get a job.

Financial Statement of Minister of FinanceThe BudgetGovernment Orders

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

Rodney Weston Conservative Saint John, NB

Mr. Speaker, I am sure all members will certainly want to join me in congratulating the Minister of Finance for not only tabling this record-setting fourth consecutive budget in a minority Parliament but also the earliest budget in modern history.

We all appreciate the challenges this has inevitably presented, especially during this period of global economic turmoil, and we thank him for his tireless work. Budget 2009 is a positive plan, with measures that will help our economy over both the short- and long-term; a plan that all parliamentarians should endorse. One measure worthy of special praise is the new home renovation tax credit.

Would the Minister of Finance please explain how this measure would help my constituents in Saint John and our local economy?

Financial Statement of Minister of FinanceThe BudgetGovernment Orders

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

Jim Flaherty Conservative Whitby—Oshawa, ON

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Saint John for his constructive question.

Canada's economic action plan does include the home renovation tax credit. This will benefit about 4.6 million Canadian families and individuals performing home renovations. Eligible renovation costs could include planting trees, installing a new energy efficient furnace or water heater, finishing a basement, remodelling a kitchen or resurfacing a driveway. Expenses eligible for the credit will include permits, professional services, equipment rentals and incidental expenses. Most important, this tax credit will result in a significant immediate stimulus to the Canadian economy, helping employ Canadians, helping our retail sector, and helping the forestry industry as well.

Financial Statement of Minister of FinanceThe BudgetGovernment Orders

5:10 p.m.

Etobicoke—Lakeshore Ontario

Liberal

Michael Ignatieff LiberalLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, the government has delivered a budget that we are going to examine and analyze carefully. We should have been presented with this economic plan a long time ago. What the government is saying today is different from what it said last fall. Then, the government said there would be no deficit and no recession. Now, the government has changed its tone, changed its target, changed its direction. The opposition parties are to be thanked for a job well done.

Millions of Canadians have lost their job since the House adjourned.

We stand here today at the end of January with thousands of Canadians out of a job since the House was adjourned. The government did not make the right choices when times were good. Now that times are hard, times are tough, it is up to this party to decide whether the choices the government has made today are the right ones. The House should know, this will be a close call. This will be a tough call. However, we will make that choice calmly and serenely.

We will make our choice calmly and serenely. That is what Canadians expect of us.

I move, therefore:

That the debate be now adjourned.

(Motion agreed to)

Financial Statement of Minister of FinanceThe BudgetGovernment Orders

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

Pursuant to Standing Order 83(2), the motion is deemed adopted, and the House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 2 p.m.

(The House adjourned at 5:15 p.m.)