Jim Peterson

[Canadian Improv Games, April 30th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, on April 13, at Ottawa's National Arts Centre, the winner of the Canadian Improv Games was declared.

This 26th annual championship was contested by 20 high school teams from right across Canada, from St. John's to Victoria.

I salute each one of these teams and the parents, teachers, volunteer coaches and others whose support and generosity made possible this uniquely rewarding experience for so many young Canadians.

They gained self-esteem, life skills, the thrill of teamwork and many new friendships.

I especially salute the winners. They are from Willowdale. Their school is named after a leader who had an enormous impact on both the Catholic church and our community at large. Just a few weeks ago I attended the funeral to honour this great Canadian.

I congratulate Canada's 2003 Improv Games winner, Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts. What a great achievement.

[Petitions, February 5th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I rise too, to present over 300 petitions on behalf of Steven Truscott and to commend the member for Guelph—Wellington for the leadership role that she has assumed in this very touching case.

These petitioners are from across Canada, including Ottawa, Victoria and throughout beautiful southwestern Ontario. They urge that the government do everything possible to ensure that this issue of fundamental justice is resolved as quickly as possible.

[Petitions, October 2nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the last petition I present involves Steven Truscott. The petitioners urge the government to ensure that the investigation and re-examination of this case take place as quickly as possible.

[Petitions, October 2nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions with thousands of names urging that Parliament complete its work in passing Bill C-15B, crimes against animals involving sections of the Criminal Code.

[Petitions, October 2nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions concerning child pornography which urge tougher laws against matters that glorify pedophilia or sado-masochistic activities involving children.

[Petitions, October 2nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I have six petitions. The first concerns focusing government support on adult stem cell research.

[Employment Insurance, December 6th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, let us look at what the official opposition would have us do. In just a little over a year since the last election it has come up with additional spending measures of over $30 billion and additional tax cuts of over $25 billion. Now it wants another huge tax cut.

This type of irresponsibility is maybe not surprising because when the leader of that party was the treasurer of his province, he increased spending 28 times. Within six months of Alberta passing its balanced budget legislation, it had to scrap it.

[Employment Insurance, December 6th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out what we have done in order to help Canada's workers.

When we took office, the unemployment rate was at 11.4%. It is now significantly below that with the government having created over two million new jobs.

Let us look at what we have done in terms of tax cuts. A one earner family of four earning $40,000 will save $1,100 this year. That is 30%, rising to 59% by 2004.

A two earner family of four earning $60,000 will save $1,000 this year. That is about 18%, rising to 34% by 2004.

A single parent--

[Employment Insurance, December 6th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, let us go back and look at what we have done to help the workers.

When we took office the employment insurance rate was at $3.07. It is now at $2.20. This is a huge saving of $6.8 billion this year for those workers.

The member should look at the overall picture of what we have done in terms of our tax cuts. We have cut personal income taxes for our workers with families by 35%. That is a huge cut.

The member should not just pick out one small portion of it and say that we are wrong.

[Employment Insurance, December 6th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member said that we have been grabbing money away from workers and taxpayers. Let me tell the member what we have done for the workers and taxpayers.

Since we have been in surplus we have cut personal income taxes 27% and 35% for families with children. That is on top of the cuts of $6.8 billion that we have made each year for the EI premiums.