Deborah Grey

[The Economy, February 20th, 1998]

Well, Mr. Speaker, talk about responsible stewards. These are the so-called “stewards” over there that ran us into debt in the first place back in the 1970s.

The budget surplus is being blown on new spending, $2.2 billion worth. That money should have gone back to taxpayers. It should have gone to pay down the debt. Oops, not the deficit but the debt. That is what this government promised and that is what we are trying to hold it accountable for.

Why is it so easy to say yes to new spending and so easy to say no to debt and tax relief? Why is that?

[The Economy, February 20th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, every household in this country pays its Mastercard bill when it is due. It is as simple as that.

We have over half a trillion dollars of debt. Canadians are paying the highest income taxes in the industrialized world. They might expect a bit of debt and tax relief, which is what they have been promised for a long time. It is crazy.

Canadians did take the Prime Minister at his word that 50% of the surplus would go to debt and tax relief. That simply has not happened, not with what the finance department has been leaking anyway to the press lately.

Why does the cabinet always get first dibs on any spending? Whose money is this anyhow, Mr. Minister?

[The Economy, February 20th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, it was reported last night that this year Canadians could have had debt reduction and tax relief. There would have been a surplus, but it has all been blown on new government spending. The big surplus that the government has been crowing about for months has already been spent before the budget. Canadian taxpayers have been robbed.

Let me ask the junior minister for finance, what about tax relief and debt reduction? Where is it? Gone with the wind?

[The Economy, February 19th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, that is right. What is a little contradiction? Just like the GST was a little contradiction.

The difference between videotape and this red book is that the videotapes never lie. You can seen over and over again.

The Prime Minister went on TV and told Canadians that as soon as that budget was balanced—a little contradiction—half of the surplus would go to tax and debt relief.

Why is the government doing the GST fiasco again? Why do Canadians have to sit through another episode of tax, lies and videotapes?

[The Economy, February 19th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the GST went way over the course of the mandate of the last Parliament. The Prime Minister went on TV in 1993 and said that he would scrap the GST. He later broke that promise. It was on videotape, though. That was the unfortunate part for the Prime Minister. Then in 1997 he went on national TV and said that he would spend half the surplus on tax and debt relief “once the budget has been balanced”.

Let me ask the Prime Minister why he always make these promises, breaks these promises and gets trapped by the truth.

[Zoie Gardner, February 19th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, today I want to pay tribute to a very special Canadian and Edmontonian. Her name is Zoie Gardner. She recently received the Order of Canada in recognition of her volunteer work and for being a foster mother to 100 kids, as she calls them. She has been doing this labour of love for 60 years.

She began her calling at the age of 19, tending a six-day old infant. By the age of 21 she had 10 kids in her care. She is still mothering four disabled adults in their thirties and forties. Two of them were her kids since they were six days old.

At 79, Zoie keeps on mothering. She said “I like kids and I enjoy working with them. I have to be busy. I do not mind growing old, but I sure mind growing useless”.

The love of her kids keeps her going. It is nice to see that kind of generosity and kindness being honoured by the Order of Canada.

Zoie is not useless. She is terrific. Way to go.

[The Economy, February 18th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister talks about social programs. It is because he has racked up such a horrendous amount of debt over the last 30 years.

The Prime Minister broke a GST promise. Now he has broken this promise for 50% of tax relief and debt reduction. The finance minister said on CBC radio “Oh, well, I am not under any real constraint to keep that promise”.

Was this latest tax promise reneged on just recently, or was it just another GST hoax right from the beginning?

[The Economy, February 18th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, it is amazing what can sneak up on you in a mandate.

The Prime Minister told the country in 1993 that he would scrap the GST, but he was just crying wolf. Last year he said that 50% of any surplus would be split between tax relief and debt reduction. Now he has just admitted that he is crying wolf again. The finance minister also says “No problem. We don't really need to keep our word”.

Let me ask the Prime Minister what happened between the promise and the present.

[Senate Of Canada, February 17th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the minister talks about it dying on the order paper. We do not have any say over what happens in the Ontario legislature but we do have a say over what happens here. Whether it dies here or not, I think it is certainly something we need to ask about.

The Prime Minister has said how he dearly wished he could throw Senator Andrew Thompson out, but he also gave a million excuses to defend the same man.

When Ontarians choose to elect a senator, will the government and the Prime Minister send him to the Senate, or will he just yammer on about the dead Charlottetown accord?

[Senate Of Canada, February 17th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, today, Ontario MPP Jim Brown unveiled a bill that would bring true democracy to Canada's decrepit Senate. The Ontario Senate selection act would allow ordinary Ontarians to chose their senators in a democratic vote. This would be a real millennium project, bringing the Senate into the 21st century.

Will the Prime Minister honour Ontario's choice to replace Senator Andrew Thompson with an elected senator?