Lost his last election, in 2006, with 38% of the vote.
Poverty May 13th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the data cited by the member of the opposition dates from before 1996, according to Statistics Canada.
Almost half the jobs created in the economy since this government's arrival in office date from 1996 and, more particularly, 1997. This indicates therefore a visible improvement in the lives of our fellow Canadians.
Poverty May 12th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the welfare figures are constantly dropping. Fewer families are on the welfare rolls, in Quebec, among others.
There is a lot of good news, which the opposition is determined not to note, even though their good buddies are the ones in government in Quebec at present. I find it amusing that they are suddenly attacking our government, when their own friends in the Government of Quebec also bear responsibility. There is a contradiction here.
What I can tell the House is that we are going to continue to work with our partners to ensure that the well-being of our fellow citizens is being properly looked after.
Poverty May 12th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, poverty is a difficult, challenging and complex phenomenon, and a priority for this government.
We are working as much as possible with the provinces and the provincial governments to contribute to a healthy economy which will enable people to earn a good living.
We have social programs in Canada that are working well. We have social programs that serve Canadians well and will be made even better in the coming years, now that we have reacquired some financial leeway.
Poverty May 12th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the Atlantic groundfish strategy was our government's initiative in 1993 in response to the crisis people were facing in Atlantic Canada.
We are working very hard at the moment, this is a complex problem. We are looking for long term solutions to make sure people can earn a living with dignity and for a long time. This is what interests us on this side of the House, not petty politics.
Poverty May 12th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, with what is happening to poverty among children and because of where the people we are talking about come from, solutions must be found, and we in the government are looking for them.
We have made major reforms just so that parents will be able to go back to work more easily. We are providing active employment measures with substantial budgets to enable parents to return to the labour market, because the best guarantee against poverty is not unemployment insurance, but employment.
Poverty May 12th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, putting the economy back on track means taking decisions that are sometimes difficult. But we were also bold enough to propose EI reforms, which have also had a favourable impact in a great many cases.
For instance, we have amended EI to include a family income supplement for low income claimants with children. Claimants receiving the family income supplement are exempt from the intensity rule.
We have made it possible for those receiving EI to earn up to $50 without losing their benefits.
Poverty May 12th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the leader of the Bloc Quebecois is being very selective in his reading of the press clippings prepared for him, because I said many other things about child poverty.
In particular, I said that it was a priority of our government, and that we had earmarked $1.7 billion for the new national child benefit, a partnership with the provinces for improved programs and services.
We are giving the provinces $25 billion under the CHST. We have increased child care deductions and further reduced Canadians' taxes—
The Atlantic Groundfish Strategy May 11th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, we are well aware of the situation. The TAGS program will be ending in August. We intend to address the post-TAGS environment very well. This is why we have conducted all the consultations we have with individuals, with the communities and with the provinces.
We are working very hard right now, some of my colleagues and I, to make sure that we have the best approach in the post-TAGS environment.
The Atlantic Groundfish Strategy May 11th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I find it incredible that the hon. member can stand in the House to say that. Canadians experienced terrible difficulties when we realized there was no fish in 1992 and 1993 we had to act and act quickly.
What we did was not perfect, but what we did was the best we could do to help Canadian citizens who were in a difficult situation. We put forward that money to help the fishermen through a difficult time.
We are addressing the post TAGS environment. We are learning from our experiences of the past and we will do better in the future.
Poverty May 11th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the very first gesture of this government was to restore the Canada health transfer by $1.5 billion. That was a very welcome gesture.
Second, this year and in the coming two years we will be investing $1.7 billion in the national child benefit to fight child poverty. We are also increasing deductions for child care and we have increased tax relief for low income Canadians. I could go on.