House of Commons Hansard #51 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was million.
Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we want to ensure that all ID used in voting is ID that can be authenticated. In this case, the fair elections act would allow for the use of two of any number of 39 different pieces of identification, so obviously people have access to a wide range of possible ID.
Thomas Mulcair NDPLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, we will take that to mean no.
Seventy-three percent of seniors use that same voter ID card as identification to vote; that is three out of four seniors. Many of them have no ID card, no passport and no driver's licence.
Why does the Prime Minister want to prevent seniors from voting?
Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the fair elections act gives voters the option of using 39 different types of identification. We will obviously work with voters to ensure that they are able to vote.
Thomas Mulcair NDPLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, could the Prime Minister tell us how many cases of electoral fraud have been prosecuted in the last eight years?
Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister
Obviously, Mr. Speaker, that is a matter most appropriately directed to investigators.
This particular legislation would make sure that all tools are available to investigators and that the investigative function is independent and is able to ensure the integrity of elections.
Thomas Mulcair NDPLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, we will take that as a zero. These are the same investigators, of course, that the Prime Minister now wants to handcuff.
The question was very clear. If we exclude the many cases of electoral fraud carried out by the Conservative Party, how many Canadians have been prosecuted for voting illegally since 2006? How many?
Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the government is not responsible for investigating. Independent agencies were created to do that.
I should point out for the record that the NDP was forced to reimburse nearly $350,000 of its election expenses.
Thomas Mulcair NDPLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, the only convictions are of the Conservative Party.
Let us look at vouching. If any widespread voter fraud was being committed using vouching as a form of ID, it would be rather easy to prove. We have their names and addresses. We do not exactly have to start a manhunt.
Before making it more difficult for hundreds of thousands of seniors to vote, did the Prime Minister even ask for an investigation to find out if there were any real cases—not ones made up by Conservative backbenchers, but real cases—of voter fraud, other than Conservative voter fraud?
Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I have already mentioned the fact that the NDP was forced to pay back $350,000 in illegal union donations.
Obviously, in terms of vouching we do not have addresses in these cases and that kind of information cannot be verified. The Neufeld report has said that some 25% of these cases lead to possible irregularities, and that is why we are instead providing a wide range of ID that can satisfy the elections process and make sure that voters have the right to vote.
Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, in the last election the Prime Minister's income splitting commitment was precise. It was not some other type of tax cut. It was not some other time. It was income splitting within the current mandate.
Did the Prime Minister ever intend to keep his 2011 campaign promise?
Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, as we have said, we will look at tax reductions for families when we actually have the budget balanced. This party on this side understands, unlike him, that the budget does not balance itself.
I am glad to see, though, that the Liberal Party is interested. I got confused over the weekend. I am pleased to see that the Liberal Party is interested in tax reductions for families. That would be a big change.
Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, I am sorry about the Prime Minister's confusion. It is true, an open convention is something he has never seen.
During budget week, the Minister of Finance said that income splitting still required “a long, hard analytical look”.
Why did the Prime Minister not ask the finance minister to conduct this analysis before the election promise was made three years ago?
Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I do not recall ever having to leave one of my conventions through the back door.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order, order. The Right Hon. Prime Minister has only a few seconds left to answer the question. We need to have a little order.
The Right Hon. Prime Minister.
Stephen Harper Conservative Calgary Southwest, AB
Mr. Speaker, I was not the one who raised the subject.
The reality, of course, is this is the party that brought in the universal child care benefit and a series of tax reduction measures for families, for things like fitness and artistic activities. We look forward to further tax reductions for Canadians.
Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, I recommend to the Prime Minister that perhaps he try using the front door of the House of Commons and actually talking to people.
In 2011, the Prime Minister made income splitting his—
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, in 2011, the Prime Minister made income splitting his primary election promise, but flip-flopped in the last budget and changed his mind.
Why did the Prime Minister not ask his Minister of Finance to analyze that promise before he made it to Canadians?
Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, this government is clear.
We will look at tax cuts for Canadian families when the budget is balanced. This party understands that a budget does not balance itself.
Income splitting was a good policy for Canadian seniors and it will be a good policy for Canadian families.
Thomas Mulcair NDPLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, it is small business that creates over 80% of the new jobs here in Canada.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order, order. We are losing a lot of time with these types of interventions. Members will be free to applaud the Leader of the Opposition when he is finished asking the question. I will give him the floor now.
Thomas Mulcair NDP Outremont, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has handed out tens of billions of dollars in giveaways to the largest, most profitable corporations. He even subsidizes the oil companies.
However, in this year's budget, he is cancelling the $1,000 job creation tax credit for small business. Why is the Prime Minister raising taxes on small businesses across Canada?
Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, of course the Leader of the Opposition raises an issue, a particular policy that he has voted against multiple times.
We were very clear that it was a time-limited policy. We have now frozen increases to EI premiums. Those will be falling in the future.
What small businesses said very clearly to the NDP is they do not agree with the NDP's plans for tax hikes of their CPP premiums. We will stand with small business.