Lost his last election, in 2004, with 39% of the vote.
Clifford Olson March 18th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I am not aware that Mr. Olson is receiving a loan. What we are aware of is that definitely Mr. Olson never had access nor was he given permission to use video cameras.
In the situation at hand, we are looking for a full inquiry and the commissioner has asked for a full report. Once the report is available, we will make it available to all members of the House.
Clifford Olson March 18th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the tapes in question were in the hands of Mr. Olson's lawyer as a result of an agreement entered into by the former warden of the penitentiary in Saskatchewan in June 1993. The agreement allowed for the taping to occur, as was done. Unfortunately this took place in 1993.
Both the solicitor general and the commissioner of corrections deplore the situation. We are looking into the matter in great detail. We will assure all Canadians that no criminal will be able to profit from such a venue at all.
Youth March 18th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, not a day goes by without an expert, some analysts or even scientific reports reminding us of the urgency to support our youth.
Our government is well aware that young Canadians, probably more than any other segment of our society, are worried about their future.
In response to the very deep concerns of our youth, our government has announced that it would spend an additional $165 million over three years to help young Canadians and their families to pay for their education.
Also, during the next three years, we will inject another $315 million to provide new job opportunities for our young people. These few measures go to prove our commitment to support young Canadians, who will some day take our place in society.
Privilege March 13th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, as important as this debate is, I find it deteriorating to some extent. We are deviating totally from the motion. We in this House seem to be already prejudging an act that one of our colleagues made.
The member for Kootenay East has asked several times why this government has not acted before. As I only have a few seconds, I would like to ask the member for Kootenay East a question his colleague from Vegreville tried asking. I refer to page 29, citation 115 of Beauchesne. Since this question and debate has emanated from a question of privilege, citation 115 clearly states: "A question of privilege must be brought to the attention of the House at the first possible opportunity. Even a gap of a few days may invalidate the claim for precedence in the House".
As much respect as I have for the Chair for having ruled on that, why is-
Canada Social Transfer March 11th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the recent budget of the finance minister has proven very simply and effectively that the Canadian government is listening and is responsive to the provinces' needs. We all remember that, last year, when our government announced the creation of the Canada health and social transfer, several provinces, including Quebec, worried about a possible decrease in funding.
In reply to that legitimate concern and in order to reassure people on the future of health, post-secondary education and welfare programs, our government promised to maintain the level of funding of that program for five years. This is further evidence of this government's commitment towards the development of a true partnership with all the provinces.
The Budget March 7th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, in response to my colleague's question, I have the opportunity to point out that our job as a government is not to create jobs. I remember during the election campaign that when any politician stood up and said that he or she was going to create so many thousands of jobs, he or she was ridiculed by everybody because it is not our job to create employment. However, it is our duty as a government to create the appropriate climate to stimulate job creation measures, et cetera.
If members look at what we have done over the past two or three years through the initiatives of our Minister of Finance and the support he has received from the Prime Minister and colleagues, we have put in place a firm foundation for companies through measures such as reduced interest rates for example.
Last year alone I remember interest rates dropped by almost 3 per cent. Inflation is quasi non-existent. If we analyse those companies that are making profits today, it is those companies in the new technologies and exporting that have been successful over the past three or four years. Therefore, when we can encourage and create the climate that is appropriate for job creation measures then I am confident that jobs will be created.
We have been criticized by members of the Reform Party who say that we have not done anything. However, I would like to raise a point for the information of members. The measures we put in place in 1994, because of the compounding effect from year to year to year, by fiscal year 1998-99 will have a net effect of close to $45 billion in savings. Compounded with the measures we have put in place in the second budget, there will be another $43 billion in savings.
This is phase three of a fantastic, sound footing which I am convinced will put us into the 21st century hopefully with the elimination of the deficit. The strong footing will encourage investment in the country. If we could get the political stability, I am convinced investments would come and job creation would follow.
The Budget March 7th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to take part in this debate on our third budget, and especially to point out that, in the last two and a half years, Canadians have relied on the government not to create jobs but to generate a social and economic climate conducive to economic growth and job creation.
We are also proud of our achievements thus far. In fact, since we came to office, the unemployment rate has fallen by 2 per cent and some 500,000 jobs have been created, most of them in the private sector and almost all of them by small and medium size businesses, of which I am proud. That said, there is still much to be done. Unemployment is still too high and Canadians, especially young people, are concerned about future jobs.
We intend to take lasting and meaningful measures. Rather than relying on short term direct spending programs, we will take a more productive approach by focusing on co-operation with our partners and strategic investments to give the forces of economic change an incentive to create jobs.
But let us start at the beginning. To secure the sustained economic growth we need to create new jobs, we must first guarantee the basic elements of the Canadian economy by reducing and eventually eliminating the deficit. Chronic, large deficits go hand in hand with high interest rates. High interest rates, in turn, discourage investment, borrowing and consumer spending. Ultimately, they have a detrimental effect on employment.
We must also keep inflation low, since it reduces pressure on interest rates and results in lower overhead for companies. It goes without saying that keeping the operating costs of a Canadian company at a minimum level promotes investment. This, in turn, helps create jobs.
Today, we are reaping the benefits of our efforts to tackle the deficit and control inflation, which is at its lowest level in 30 years. Short term interest rates have already gone down three percentage points since the last budget, and we have made major progress in terms of our competitiveness, as indicated by the unprecedented level of our exports. However, there is an obvious need to maintain and even increase our efforts in order to ensure the future of Canadians.
In addition to providing a solid economic framework, we took a hard look at what more we can and must do. Some issues are so vital for Canada's future that they warrant a significantly greater effort on the part of the federal government. Our youth, in my opinion, is one such area.
The unemployment rate for young people is around 16 per cent, which is one and one half times higher than the national average. The transition from school to the labour market must be looked at. Our young people are our greatest asset. They are the key to the future. They need higher education, since this is vital for any job. They also need more assistance in finding that all-important first job.
We have a plan. The programs announced include Youth service Canada, Youth internship Canada, as well as the summer employment program for students. In addition to these initiatives, the student loans program, whose budget provides for an additional $556 million, will include the negotiation of loans totalling over one billion dollars and will help more than 360,000 students.
The 1996 budget also calls for new measures to enable young people to meet the challenge of the labour market, so that future generations will be able to keep pace with the remarkable changes in the world economy. To that end, we have inaugurated an apprenticeship program. As the result of rearrangements within the taxation structure, these new measures will make it possible to free up an additional $165 million in the form of tax assistance to students and their families.
This program has three main components. First, there is additional tax assistance to students, through a 25 per cent increase in the education credit, that is to say from $80 to $100 per month. The budget also proposes a 25 per cent increase in the ceiling for
transfer of tuition and education credits to family members who are supporting students.
Second, savings to finance education over the long term are eligible for assistance, because the annual limit for contributions to registered education savings plans has been increased.
Assistance is also available to single, low income parents, by authorizing the child care expense deduction from any kind of income when the single parent is also a full time student. This applies to secondary students. Two parent families are also eligible for this deduction if both adults are studying at the same time. The age limit for this deduction will also be raised to help parents of older students.
Implementation of tax rules in favour of education is a first step. However, young Canadians need much more than educational opportunities in order to get a job on the labour market. They need professional experience.
We first provided for on-the-job training by re-allocating $315 million over three years to help create job opportunities for young people. These funds will combine with the $700 million we set aside for this year for youth internship Canada, youth service Canada and summer employment programs.
As an initial intermediary stage, the budget will double our commitment to the summer employment program from $60 million to $120 million.
We are concerned not only about young people, but about the burgeoning technologies that are changing our universe. In short, innovation feeds productivity and growth, which underlie the jobs of tomorrow. We have a job to do to stimulate Canada's creative abilities.
The initiatives currently in effect include changes in the type of work done by the National Research Council in areas such as biotechnology, telecommunications and the latest in manufacturing and infrastructure technology.
We are working closely with the private sector in projects such as CANARIE, which is aimed at speeding up the establishment of high speed electronic networks. Furthermore, we are encouraging the expansion of new technologies in small businesses under the industrial research assistance program.
Here again, we want to do more. We are re-allocating $270 million worth of savings over three years to promote innovation and technology. This measure provides for the creation of technology partnerships Canada, a fund to stimulate the development of environmental technologies, high tech manufacturing processes and biotechnologies. It will also help maintain jobs in the aerospace industry, which is facing fierce highly subsidized foreign competition.
We will give an additional $50 million to the Business Development Bank. This money will enable the institution to loan an additional $350 million to knowledge-based, and growth businesses.
Moreover, we are creating a program under which 2,000 computer students will help connect 50,000 small businesses to the Internet.
Last but not least, trade, which is at the heart of the Canadian economy. We export a third of what we produce, providing work for millions of people.
In this budget, we are allocating a further $50 million to the Export Development Corporation. We are reallocating resources from concessional loans to foreign borrowers to finance higher volumes of non-concessional financing under an improved system of risk management. This measure will permit an increase of up to $500 million of year in the financing available to Canadians exporters.
To conclude, I will say that the private sector is our most important and most astute innovation mechanism. Young Canadians are our most solid hope for the future. And trade is one of the most powerful means to create wealth. We are investing in these three areas.
The framework is in place. The economic situation is improving. The fundamentals to create partnership are in place. We are being true to our commitment to provide opportunities in the areas of education and modernization, as well as job opportunities for young people in the next century.
Pension Reform March 7th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister said when he made his commitment, the major reform of old age pensions announced yesterday by the Minister of Finance in his budget will not affect those who currently receive old age security benefits.
The new plan called seniors benefit will come in effect only in the year 2001. It will replace the current old age security benefits and the guaranteed income supplement. The seniors benefit will be paid based on the combined income of a couple.
It is expected that the new plan will prove beneficial for nine women out of ten, in that they will get more money than they would have under the current plan.
Once again, our government has shown that it is possible to revamp Canada's social programs while also protecting those who benefit from them.
Child Prostitution March 6th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, today's major dailies report that child prostitution is on the rise in some parts of the country.
This situation is totally unacceptable and we must vehemently condemn this undermining of Canadian children's basic rights. All those working with children must be made aware of this plague and co-ordinate their efforts to put an end to the activities of these exploitative and depraved individuals.
Current legislation must be vigorously enforced so that those who commit these repugnant crimes will be punished as they should be. If we need to take additional measures or to adopt amendments in order to make the fight against child prostitution and sexual abuse more effective, we should do so without delay.
Economic Recovery March 4th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, last week, the Prime Minister of Canada appealed for solidarity and co-operation from all Canadians. Our country's economic recovery requires a concerted effort by all stakeholders to help make the various government initiatives efficient and cost-effective.
We must all do our part to set our country back on the road to growth and prosperity. Governments across Canada are working hard to address the problem of our crippling debt and deficit. Governments are shrinking to an acceptable size and becoming more efficient. Citizens, business and labour must in turn support our efforts to create jobs and stimulate the economy. The Prime Minister is holding out his hand to all our Canadian partners. Together, let us grab it so that all Canadians can be better off.