Jim Peterson

[Taxation, February 21st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I would urge the member opposite, who was part of a government which certainly did not reduce taxes but raised taxes when going into a recession, to wait for the budget which will be one week from today, when he will see what this government's priorities are in terms of future tax reductions.

[Gasoline Prices, February 21st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, it is true that the price of oil has actually doubled since last year. Taxes went up by only one cent.

This is not the problem for people buying gasoline. The problem is not taxes, but the fact the price of oil has doubled.

[Gasoline Prices, February 21st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, ever since we have taken office the question of tax reduction has been a priority of the government. As a matter a fact, in the last two budgets, when we were in a surplus, we cut taxes by $16.5 billion over three years.

The Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance have assured the House that tax cuts will be part of this budget and future budgets.

[Gasoline Prices, February 21st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, we have had under consideration the entire tax burden as it impacts on Canada and on individual Canadians. If the member looks at it he will realize that a only very small portion of the price increase for fuel relates to the tax.

[Income Tax Conventions Implementation Act, 1999, February 16th, 2000]

moved that Bill S-3, an act to implement an agreement, conventions and protocols between Canada and Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Algeria, Bulgaria, Portugal, Uzbekistan, Jordan, Japan and Luxembourg for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, be read the first time.

(Motion agreed to and bill read the first time)

[Income Tax Amendments Act, 1999, February 16th, 2000]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-25, an act to amend the Income Tax Act, the Excise Tax Act and the Budget Implementation Act, 1999.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Points Of Order, February 16th, 2000]

I rise on the same point of order, Mr. Speaker.

I think representations to you suggesting in any way that your demeanour has not led to expeditious handling of these matters in the House would be totally unfounded. I think you have demonstrated exemplary behaviour in the way you have tried to bring order at times. I think the solution to the problem lies with members themselves on all sides of the House.

[Division No. 684, February 15th, 2000]

moved that a ways and means motion to amend the Income Tax Act, the Excise Tax Act and the Budget Implementation Act, 1999, laid upon the table on Tuesday, December 7, 1999, be concurred in.

[Ways And Means, February 15th, 2000]

moved that a ways and means motion to amend the Excise Tax Act, a related act, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Budget Implementation Act, 1997, the Budget Implementation Act, 1998, the Budget Implementation Act, 1999, the Canada Pension Plan, the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act, the Cultural Property Export and Import Act, the Customs Act, the Customs Tariff, the Employment Insurance Act, the Excise Act, the Income Tax Act, the Tax Court of Canada Act and the Unemployment Insurance Act, laid upon the table on Thursday, December 2, 1999, be concurred in.

[Employment Insurance, December 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I remind the hon. member that the three commissioners were the ones who agreed that this was within the preamble and the precepts of the act.

Having said that, our government has taken EI premiums down from $3.07 to $2.40, a reduction of close to $5 billion a year. Unlike the Reform Party we made those cuts for the workers, not just for the employers alone the way it has advocated.