House of Commons Hansard #205 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was elections.
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, when we asked a question about the shrinking Canadian economy, the Minister of Finance could not answer the question. His colleagues had to do his work for him.
The economy contracted in January. Growth forecasts were downgraded, but the minister was silent on why he has not taken action.
When will he come up with a real plan for jobs and economic growth?
Kevin Sorenson ConservativeMinister of State (Finance)
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows that the strong leadership of this Conservative government has steered Canada out of the global recession, creating nearly 1.2 million net new jobs.
Our government is continuing to introduce new job-creating measures in budget 2015, such as lowering the small business tax rate to 9%, providing manufacturers an accelerated capital cost allowance so they can invest back into their businesses, supporting young entrepreneurs through Futurpreneur Canada, and now a new public transit fund that will invest in infrastructure in our major cities.
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
Mr. Speaker, while the minister hides his head in the sand, Canadians are losing their jobs.
Yesterday GM announced that it will cut 1,000 jobs this year from its Oshawa plant, while growing its American operations, and analysts say this is just a start.
This is not a problem for the Prime Minister's granddaughter. This is a problem for 1,000 Oshawa families today. This is a problem for the minister now. When can we expect him to do something?
Kevin Sorenson ConservativeMinister of State (Finance)
Mr. Speaker, certainly we understand the loss for those families, and our thoughts are with them at this very difficult time.
However, we have a strong record of job-creating measures. We have created 1.2 million net new jobs. This new budget 2015, the economic action plan, has invested again in job-creation measures and also in measures to help the Canadian Automotive Association and manufacturing.
We know that all the measures we have brought, the opposition has voted against. Canadians know they are better off with--
Ralph Goodale Liberal Wascana, SK
Mr. Speaker, the government brags about stale job numbers that are three and four and five years old, nothing more recent.
Job growth and job quality have been dropping. In all of last year, there were just 121,000 new jobs in the whole country. That is down 60% from two years ago. Job quality is at a 25-year low, and economic growth is pathetic. In fact, the economy has grown only once in the last four months.
Why is the government's plan such an utter failure, and why does it not have a job creation target?
Kevin Sorenson ConservativeMinister of State (Finance)
Mr. Speaker, the Canadian manufacturing industry and its workers are one of the key engines of the Canadian economy, representing a vital source of jobs and economic growth for many communities. That is why we are investing in them. That is why economic action plan 2015 invests in job creation and the manufacturing sector.
We have brought forward measures that have created 1.2 million net new jobs, but in this budget, we are encouraging investment in the Canadian manufacturing sector, fostering automotive supply innovation, removing financial barriers.
Those involved in this industry commend us on the--
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Mr. Speaker, yesterday GM announced that another 1,000 jobs will be cut in Oshawa this year.
More than 400,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost under the Conservative government. Now it has introduced another budget that fails the middle class and working families. The Minister of Finance did not even bother to try to figure out if his budget would create any jobs.
Why are the Conservatives giving billions to the wealthy, while middle-class working families and future generations pay the price?
Kevin Sorenson ConservativeMinister of State (Finance)
Mr. Speaker, again, our thoughts are with the workers and their families during this most difficult time.
Our government has brought forward measures in budget 2015. Our government reduced EI premiums for small businesses. We eliminated tariffs on machinery, making Canada the first tariff-free zone for manufacturing inputs in the G20. We negotiated trade agreements so that our products can get into countries around the world, and we have lowered business taxes.
We know that the NDP has a high-tax, high-spend plan that will kill jobs. We are not going to let that happen.
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Mr. Speaker, Conservatives have utterly failed the auto sector, failed the manufacturing sector, and failed the 1.3 million Canadians who are out of work.
Canadians are working harder and falling further and further behind, but instead of helping to create jobs in Canada, the Conservatives loaned Volkswagen $526 million to create jobs in Mexico, and now there is another budget with no manufacturing strategy.
Why are Conservatives abandoning the middle class, working families, and the manufacturing sector?
Kevin Sorenson ConservativeMinister of State (Finance)
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for her question. She knows that as a result of our government's strong leadership, Canada has the strongest job-creation record in the entire G7, the most industrialized countries.
Economic action plan 2015 will create more jobs, will build on that excellent record, by reducing the tax rate for job-creating small businesses. The opposition opposes this measure.
We are investing in federal infrastructure and are introducing a new public transit fund. We know that the Liberals and the NDP have a high-tax, high-spend plan that will kill jobs.
Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe NDP Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
Mr. Speaker, Ontario has every reason to be unhappy with the Conservatives' budget, but the budget is no better for Quebec.
Quebec has lost 115,000 manufacturing jobs under the Conservatives. For the second month in a row, manufacturing production in Canada has declined. We also learned that 300 Bell Helicopter employees in Mirabel will be losing their jobs.
Can the Minister of Finance explain why his budget gives gifts to the wealthy instead of investing to create well-paid jobs in Quebec's manufacturing sector?
Kevin Sorenson ConservativeMinister of State (Finance)
Mr. Speaker, again, our record is clear: 1.2 million net new jobs since the depths of the recession.
The economic action plan is full of job-creating measures. Let me read a few: creating and promoting Canadian tourism, the labour market integration of new Canadians, and the Canada 150 community infrastructure program.
Measures like these are going to help create jobs and help build a strong economy. Canadians know they are better off with this Conservative government.
Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe NDP Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
Mr. Speaker, when the Conservatives refuse to even acknowledge that there is a problem, how can Canadians hope to see any real solutions?
It is not only the manufacturing sector that is struggling; many other sectors in Quebec are too. The Quebec finance minister has said that the TFSA increase is going to cost Quebeckers $65 million a year. That is millions of dollars that Quebec could be using to relieve the pressure on hospitals, for instance, rebuild roads or create jobs.
When will the Conservatives stop giving gifts to the rich and leaving the middle class to foot the bill?
Kevin Sorenson ConservativeMinister of State (Finance)
Mr. Speaker, our Conservative government tabled a low-tax plan that will help create jobs for businesses. It is a low-tax plan for families. This budget 2015 economic action plan will help create jobs.
We know that the Liberals and the NDP want high taxes on the middle class. They want a high-spending carbon tax. They want high taxes on middle-class seniors. They want high taxes on middle-class consumers. That is their plan: high taxes on everyone.
Our Conservative government is reducing taxes on the middle class--
Laurin Liu NDP Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Mr. Speaker, the member should come to my riding and tell that to the workers who just lost their jobs.
The middle class is paying the price for the Conservatives' mismanagement. The manufacturing sector slipped again, for the second month in a row. Under the Conservatives, we have lost more than 400,000 well-paid manufacturing jobs, and in the suburbs north of Montreal, in my region, another 300 workers at Bell Helicopter are being let go.
Instead of passing a budget that favours the rich, will the government finally take job creation seriously?
Kevin Sorenson ConservativeMinister of State (Finance)
Mr. Speaker, our Conservative government has brought forward a low-tax plan for business. We know that when we tax business higher, as the New Democrats would do, it hurts jobs. People are laid off. The CFIB said that if payroll taxes are increased, up to 60% of businesses would reduce their workforce.
We eliminated tariffs on machinery, we are making Canada the first tariff-free zone, we are lowering corporate taxes to 15% and small business tax to 9%. We know the NDP would reverse it. We know that would kill jobs.
François Lapointe NDP Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Mr. Speaker, under the Conservatives, it is more and more difficult for Canadians to find good jobs and household debt is higher than ever. In the meantime, the banks are making record profits in the billions of dollars every year.
This prosperity gap, with more profits for the banks and more debt for the middle class, is only going to get worse. Canadians are going to be charged fees to pay their mortgage. That is obscene.
Are the Conservatives going to turn a blind eye to the abuses by their friends at the banks, or are they going to quickly pass a mandatory code of conduct for the banking sector?
Kevin Sorenson ConservativeMinister of State (Finance)
Mr. Speaker, again, we are the only government that has stood up for consumers by lowering taxes and putting more money back into their own pockets. Unlike the Liberals and the NDP who would raise taxes on middle-class consumers, our government has consistently reduced taxes on the middle class. Our government has taken action to improve low-cost bank accounts and expand no-cost banking options for more than seven million Canadians. We introduced the debit and credit card code of conduct. Shamefully, they voted against it.
Andrew Cash NDP Davenport, ON
The Conservatives did introduce a code of conduct, Mr. Speaker, but it is a voluntary code of conduct, and that voluntary code of conduct gives the banks a blank cheque to charge new fees on everyday transactions that hammer middle-class Canadians, transactions like making a mortgage payment, making a student loan payment. Seniors, even children, are going to be affected by these new pay-to-pay fees. A voluntary code of conduct does not cut it.
When will the government have the backbone to stand up against the banks and stand up for Canadians against these fees?
Kevin Sorenson ConservativeMinister of State (Finance)
Again, Mr. Speaker, this Conservative government is the only government that consistently stands up for the consumer. We bring forward consumer measures and consistently the NDP votes against them. Unlike the Liberals who would raise taxes, we are lowering taxes for consumers.
Just listen to what the Public Interest Advocacy Centre had to say about our government's actions. It stated, “...we support the establishment of a financial consumer code which would be binding upon financial institutions subject to federal Government authority.”
Mr. Speaker—
Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Mr. Speaker, it is not just consumers who are paying the price for Conservative choices. It is also over a million Canadians who paid into EI, lost their jobs through no fault of their own, and expect it to be there when they need it. Instead of making sure that EI is there for them, the Conservatives are raiding the EI fund of billions. EI is paid for by workers and businesses.
When will the Conservatives stop raiding the EI fund to give handouts to the wealthy few?
