John Manley

[Gasoline Tax, September 17th, 2003]

First, Mr. Speaker, it should be pointed out that the public debt is made up of accumulated deficits. That still exists.

Second, in 2000, we made a decision as a government to reduce the tax burden by $100 billion. This was a very significant tax cut. At the time, it was clear that the other taxes would be maintained. So, there was a tax cut. We have to accept that.

We supported the decision to cut income taxes.

[Voyageur Colonial Pension Fund, September 17th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the member is making groundless allegations. He is attempting to create a scandal where none exists. The fact is that the independence of OSFI is not something that is subject to the whim of a finance minister. The independence of OSFI is founded in legislation.

If he has a problem with how the superintendent of financial institutions has conducted his responsibilities, then let him take it up in the appropriate parliamentary committee.

[Voyageur Colonial Pension Fund, September 17th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I understand that the hon. member has recently returned to the front bench as critic for finance and I welcome him there, but I hope that he can find more substantial questions than that to pose.

OSFI is an independent entity. It deals with pension plans under authority given to it by Parliament. It is never appropriate for the finance minister to comment on any individual pension plan. The duty of OSFI is to protect the interest of pensioners and it does it independently.

[Infrastructure, September 17th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, not only do we expect to continue to support the cities in the future but we have been supporting the cities and municipalities in the past, starting with the municipal infrastructure program in 1994, building on it year after year, up to and including the last budget which included a $3 billion increase in the amount of support for municipal infrastructure in Canada; more money for housing, more money to support cities in the necessities that they face in providing services to their people on a daily basis.

[Agriculture, September 17th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I agree with the hon. member that there has been no priority of greater significance to the government.

Since the outbreak of BSE we have been trying to deal with the crisis that was created. Let us understand that it is not the Canadian border that is closed. The Canadian border is open. It is the borders of our partners in trade that are closed.

At every level of the government, the Minister of Agriculture, the Prime Minister, myself and other counter-colleagues have dealt with our counterparts again and again. We have met with some success but more is sought. We will not rest until the border is open.

[Finance, September 17th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, we have answered this question on a number of occasions here in this House. It is clear that we have treaties with other countries that affect taxation levels. This has been studied often. Since 1993 we have introduced measures aimed at reducing taxes. We also have treaties to protect the levels of taxation on Canadian companies with connections to these other countries.

[Finance, September 17th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is well aware that we have reduced the burden on the taxpayer by $100 billion over five years. All Canadians have benefited from that decision.

[Finance, September 17th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, during the meetings that began this week, the Standing Committee on Finance has already started preparing for the next budget.

Furthermore, later this fall, as usual, I will present the programs and the state of our finances. The Department of Finance will be ready to table a budget in the winter or earlier, if necessary.

[Voyageur Colonial Pension Fund, September 17th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, items that are blanked out in response to access to information are reviewed by the appropriate officers of the information commissioner. He reports independently to parliament. He is an officer of the House.

Consequently, there is no basis on the fact that information was not disclosed to conclude what that information was.

[Voyageur Colonial Pension Fund, September 17th, 2003]

No, Mr. Speaker.