Deborah Grey

[Goods And Services Tax, March 22nd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, how much do you think the government is willing to spend to try to hide its broken GST promise, $50 million a year, $200 million a year, $500 million a year?

The government is so desperate to whitewash its promise on the GST, perhaps to save the political career of the Deputy Prime Minister, it will pay the Atlantic provinces hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars if they agree to harmonize the GST.

Why is the government spending taxpayer dollars to harmonize the GST when it clearly promised to save taxpayer dollars and kill, scrap, abolish it?

[The Late Ernest Charles Manning, March 21st, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to share a few thoughts about Mr. Manning and some of the experiences I had with him.

I moved to Alberta from British Columbia in 1977 after Mr. Manning had gone out of power. All I knew was the incredible respect the name Ernest Manning had in the entire province of Alberta because of his history and his amazing political career.

When I first was elected to the House of Commons in a byelection on March 13, 1989, Mr. Manning's son, Preston, was with me in my campaign office. As one can imagine, we were pretty excited that night. Mr. Manning Sr. was down in Arizona and his son, Preston, phoned him. I think the conversation went something like this: "Dad, we won, we really won". He was so excited he said: "Put her on, I would like to talk to her".

I was a little nervous. My life had just been turned upside down already and then I got to speak with this famous Canadian. He said: "Hello, Deborah, this is Ernest Manning. I want to let you know we are thrilled that you just won the byelection. I do believe this is going to make some change in Canadian politics". That was an incredible moment for me when Ernest Manning knew my name and spoke to me on the telephone. It was a remarkable experience for me, one I will never forget.

Shortly after that I was passed the torch from one of the original Reformers, Mr. Doug Campbell, the former premier of Manitoba. I think about Doug Campbell, Stan Waters, who came to the Senate shortly after that, and Ernest Manning and the affect those people have had on my life. Of the three, Mr. Manning was the last to pass on. I have lost an incredible number of role models and heroes in Doug Campbell, Stan Waters and Mr. Manning. However, my life

is so much richer for having known them. They have had an incredible influence on my life.

In the spring of 1994, shortly after Lew and I were married, he was taking me to the Edmonton municipal airport for yet another trip to Ottawa. While we were saying our goodbyes and I was ready to get on the plane, Mr. Manning Sr. came up the escalator and around a post and we nearly crashed into each other. He was walking as upright and tall as he could walk carrying his briefcase. He was well into his eighties but was looking sharp and knew exactly where he was going.

When we realized we recognized each other he said: "Deborah, it is so nice to see you". He shook my hand and then looked at my brand new husband and said: "Lewis, it is so nice to see you". My husband said: "You too, Mr. Manning". We had a short visit and then he was on his way back to Calgary.

When he left I said to my husband: "Have you guys met before?" Lew said no. However, because we had sent a Christmas card to them, Mr. Manning, ages later, remembered my husband's name. That was an impression that will last on us forever. This was the kind of man he was.

He knew people because he cared about them. Because Mr. Manning had some sort of feeling for me and for what was going on in my life and that I was newly married, he took the time to memorize my husband's name. That was another moving experience for me which I appreciated so much.

In terms of his role modelling he was a man who integrated his strong personal Christian faith with his political career. I think that would stand to serve us all well, that those of us who have a strong Christian faith must never be ashamed to say yes, it is part of my political belief and I am not hesitant to share it.

I pay tribute to his wife, Muriel, today and to their son, Preston. Thank you for sharing your family with us. I know Preston has grown up in a very political and a very public home. I thank the Manning family, especially Mrs. Manning, Mr. Ernest Manning's widow. Thank you for sharing Ernest Manning with us.

[Points Of Order, March 20th, 1996]

We can consider that one for the Beave, right?

Mr. Speaker, I offered to table at least one copy of the document by the former minister that was not shredded. It is called "Creating Opportunity: Fulfilling the Promise of Immigration and Citizenship".

I would like to seek unanimous consent to table it so that one of the unshredded copies will be kept forever more.

[Points Of Order, March 20th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, regarding question period as well, in my question for the Prime Minister I said that his Liberal government was imitating the political sleaze of Brian Mulroney. You got up and said that I should not be using derogatory adjectives and I certainly would not think of doing that. The word "sleaze" is a noun.

Further to that I also said that I would like to-

[Immigration Red Book, March 20th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the question is who is paying for that red book?

The current minister now knows exactly why she shredded them. They were nothing more than partisan. Maybe we will at least give her credit for knowing that it was wrong and that something smelled about it.

The reasons are not good enough. I ask the minister that she stand up and answer to it. The former minister knew he was breaking the rules when he made the document. His departmental officials told him he was breaking the rules. His cabinet successor was so concerned about it that she tried to destroy the evidence.

As I said before, not all of the evidence was shredded and I have a copy which I am willing to table.

Canadians thought this kind of political sleaze belonged only to Brian Mulroney, but it has hung over to this Parliament.

Which red book should Canadians believe in, the red book that talks about integrity and honesty in government or the red book these people shredded to try to avoid a scandal?

[Immigration Red Book, March 20th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, we know the environment minister used public servants and taxpayers' money to produce 30,000 copies of the Liberal propaganda aimed at Canadian immigrants. The minister knew exactly what he was doing when he ordered the documents, "Creating Opportunity", the red book sequel. It is the very same title, if we can imagine.

Not all of these documents were shredded and I offer to table a copy.

What will the Prime Minister do about this blatant, partisan misuse of public funds?

[Good And Services Tax, March 11th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, you will be surprised to learn that several straw people will be outside the Sheraton in Toronto tonight because taxes are taxes and people feel that very strongly.

The minister talks about fairer taxes. How fairer will this new super tax be? First, it increases the tax bill for consumers. No matter what he says he simply will not convince Canadians who are already paying too much in taxes. Second, it kills jobs. A recent study done by the University of Toronto estimates that the Liberal government's new super tax will kill 74,000 jobs in Ontario alone.

That is not a straw person saying that. It will also reduce real income substantially. That is not a straw person. It will also slow economic growth for real people, not straw people.

How will this new super tax be fair to anyone, especially Liberal members seeking re-election?

[Good And Services Tax, March 11th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, rest assured there will be no harmony with this harmonization, especially in the province of Alberta with no provincial sales tax.

The truth is the government has simply broken its promise to Canadians. What is worse, it plans to replace the GST with a new super tax that will increase the cost of textbooks, heating oil and funerals, to name a few.

In Ontario alone the Liberal super tax would amount to a tax increase of $3 billion a year. That is why residents of Toronto will be gathering in front of the Sheraton tonight at seven o'clock to protest this Liberal plan.

How much will this new Liberal super tax, the twin of the GST, add to the yearly tax bill of Canadians?

[Good And Services Tax, March 11th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, in the budget last week the finance minister said the government was working very hard to replace the federal sales tax. The federal sales tax is the government's new synonym for the GST and replace is the new word for abolish, kill or scrap.

Creative writing is one thing but people in Canada thought they were voting in a government, not a thesaurus. Words have to mean the same thing. Replace means replace. Scrap means scrap, kill or abolish.

These people across the way have clearly broken their election promise time after time. Why will the finance minister not simply admit the government has no intention of scrapping, killing or abolishing the GST?

[The Budget, March 7th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, it is amazing. He was begging us for another taxpayers' budget this year and now he is misquoting it. It just seems absolutely ridiculous. The finance minister says we will continue to gut social programs and emasculate medicare but our program calls for sustained spending for medicare, not cuts as he has done.

What the minister avoids and what he got so worked up about right now is the fact that foreign banks are going to be taking so much of the money we are giving to this government in taxes hoping it will be used responsibly. He talks about the future, 2006, but he did nothing to improve the actual lives of Canadians now. Youth unemployment is still 16 per cent. The CPP is in trouble and needs something more serious than just tinkering. Social programs are being eroded.

Since this finance minister is so good at looking 10 years ahead rather than at tomorrow or balancing the budget very soon, would he please answer the following: What is he going to do? When is he going to balance the books? When is he going to provide tax cuts? When will he give us the unemployment numbers for star date 2006?