House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 55% of the vote.
Taxation February 15th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, it seems to me the Prime Minister worked out an accord with his counterparts in the provinces and territories which deals with this issue. I thought the hon. member would be applauding this type of co-operative enterprise.
If we want to talk about irresponsibility, Reform's budget calls for $9 billion in spending cuts but it will not tell us where, a $9 billion black hole. Reformers ought to be ashamed of themselves.
Taxation February 15th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, if it is a question of credibility, I think some very important things have been raised by members of the Reform Party which go to the heart of their very credibility. They have called for $54 billion in new fiscal goodies over the next three years. They are basing it on estimated growth rates of 5.5% per year for three years. This is more than twice the private sector consensus.
This type of pie in the sky, irresponsible budget making is what got us into so much trouble. We will not do it.
Taxation February 15th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, I suggest very kindly that the hon. member wait until tomorrow's budget to see what our measures on health care are.
Let me say this. In terms of tax revenues having gone up, it is very simple. If we have more people working we have more revenue. Since we took office 1.5 million more Canadians are working. This is a huge increase and in the last month alone employment went up 87,400. This is the type of real results—
Taxation February 15th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, ever since we took office cutting taxes has been one of our major priorities. Even when we were in deficit we had selective, targeted tax cuts for students, for low income families, for the disabled, for charities and for the voluntary sector.
In every budget since, we have been able to reduce income taxes. In the last budget we cut taxes for 13 million out of 14 million Canadian tax filers. We took 400,000 taxpayers right off the tax rolls. This is the type of tax—
The Budget February 12th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, this still is speculation. I would encourage the hon. member to wait another four days.
The Budget February 12th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, there has been much speculation about what the upcoming budget may or may not contain.
Fortunately, the hon. member will not have to wait too long as the budget is to be tabled in the next four days.
The Economy February 12th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, we will continue our broad based tax cuts which were begun in a very meaningful way last year. I encourage the member to wait until Tuesday to see what the next chapter is on tax cuts.
Taxation February 12th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, if the member wants to talk about cuts, the Reform budget would cut existing programs by $9 billion. Guess what? Not surprisingly, it has not told us where.
We remember in the last election how the Tories had an $8 billion black hole in their numbers. Now Reform has done them $1 billion better. They are perfect soulmates.
Taxation February 12th, 1999
Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, we will have to wait four days for that when the budget comes down.
Our priority has been a balanced approach, unlike that of Reform. We have pursued a balanced approach by first getting rid of the deficit, by now paying down the debt, by re-investing in the necessary economic and social programs that are going to make a strong future for all Canadians, and by implementing a program for overall tax relief.
In the last budget we were able to give tax relief to 13 million out of 14 million Canadian taxpayers.
Taxation February 12th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, I believe there is a much more fundamental question, one which goes right to the heart of the credibility of the Reform Party itself. The Reform budget calls for $54 billion in new fiscal goodies, but at the same time it is assuming growth rates for the next three years of 5.5%. That is a Bre-X budget: full of hype, but bankrupt.