John Manley

[Highway Infrastructure, May 28th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the government has many sources of revenue. We go into the consolidated revenue fund and spend it on a whole variety of programs. We do not have a dedicated tax for highways or roads and neither does the Province of British Columbia. It must be remembered that almost the entire responsibility for highways lies with the province.

[The Economy, May 28th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, there is no question that the NDP has never been faint of heart in finding ways to spend additional money.

I do want to assure the hon. member, as she may have forgotten, that the safety net programs that exist, including employment insurance and other support programs that apply in both of the situations she has described, are there and fully available to workers and those affected in the industry.

We have been prepared for events like that and we are responding in the appropriate way.

[The Economy, May 28th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I am sure on reflection the hon. member will want to join with other Canadians in celebrating the fact that over the last five years Canada has led the G-7 in economic growth and in average employment growth.

Year after year we are improving our productivity rates. We are improving the well-being of Canadian families. We are doing it at the same time as we are reducing taxes and improving services to Canadians. That is a record to brag about.

[Agriculture, May 28th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I am sure the hon. member knows that there is additional work being carried on by the authorities at both the federal and provincial levels. Once the appropriate information is available, then of course we will immediately urge that the ban on imports to the United States be lifted. That will be done at all appropriate levels.

[Canada-U.S. Relations, May 27th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition says this time answer about beef.

The hon. member knows not only of the effort that has been carried on by this government with respect to the issue that has arisen, but he also knows about the approval of the Premier of Alberta's own province in saying what we have done properly.

Opposition members do not like it when there is good news. They do not like to admit it when there is good news. However there is good news today on an important trade issue, and that is the WTO decision on softwood lumber. Why do they not want to talk about that?

[Canada-U.S. Relations, May 27th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is due to meet with the President next week at the G-8 meeting--

[Canada-U.S. Relations, May 27th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I know one of the things the Alliance likes to do is to try to portray Canada-U.S. relations as being all bad news. In fact on many files and many fronts we have continuing good news.

One thing the Prime Minister did not have the opportunity to mention to the President yesterday, because it had not yet happened, was the very clear decision of the World Trade Organization in favour of Canada on the U.S. applied countervailing duties on softwood lumber.

[Budget Implementation Act, May 13th, 2003]

moved that the bill, as amended, be concurred in.

[The Environment, May 6th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, first, I would observe of course that we all know in the House of the hon. member's firm commitment to sustainable development, a cleaner environment and public transit in principle.

I would say though that this kind of measure was considered by the finance committee over the last year. It was found that what we were really trying to do was promote incremental use of public transit and the best way to do that was to flow funds to expand the availability of public transit. That is why the government introduced a $435 million offer to the Toronto region to improve public transit and make it more available to users.

[Employment Insurance, May 5th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, when we started the premium rate was $3.07 scheduled to go to $3.30. Instead, as we speak it is $2.10 scheduled to go to $1.98 next year.

I do not know what the hon. member is complaining about. What we have seen is a steady and continuous reduction in EI premium rates. We have benefited employers and employees while we have done so. At the same time we have reduced overall taxes and charges by $100 billion.