John Manley

[Taxation, April 11th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I will also say that this very week, the International Monetary Fund revised its projections for world economic output, including Canada. Canada's growth rate fell from 3.4% to 2.8%.

I think that our prudent approach to the budget will stand us in good stead if the economy is slower than anticipated.

[Taxation, April 11th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, it is clear, in considering the monthly fiscal balance, that the government typically reports a considerable deficit in March. As of today, I can say, based on figures available to date and on the fact that the budget announcements have not yet been included in the public accounts, that this year's surplus will be very similar to our budget forecast.

[Taxation, April 11th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, there have been frequent discussions here in the House and in committee about the alleged fiscal imbalance the Bloc talks about. And our position is always the same.

[Taxation, April 11th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, our position on the alleged fiscal imbalance which the Bloc raises every day is still the same and it has not changed; it is well known.

[Airline Industry, April 11th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport is not responsible when U.S. airlines go bankrupt, but that is what in fact has been happening. There is a problem in the industry, which they do not perhaps recognize.

We have disagreed with the Alliance on this for quite some time. We believe that the users of the industry ought to bear the burden of the cost. They think that the ordinary taxpayer, who perhaps never takes the occasion to use the airline industry, should bear the cost of measures that are used by others who are in fact using the service.

[Airline Industry, April 11th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, we debated this to some extent yesterday in question period. I think it is important to recognize that the industry is not only in difficulty in Canada. In fact, we have had a number of other factors arise recently that have impacted the use of air services. Certainly it is causing difficulties for the industry.

The Minister of Transport is monitoring that situation very closely and developing alternatives. We will consider those alternatives as they come forward.

I give my assurance to the member that we will indeed respond in an appropriate way.

[Taxation, April 11th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, she keeps talking about capital gains tax reductions. We did not do any.

Maybe we can have a little briefing session for her on the budget so that she can get caught up to date. Instead, she sits over there grinning and smirking, thinking she knows something about the tax system.

What we need to do in Canada is we need to understand that the creation of wealth goes with the ability to distribute wealth. That is something that has always escaped the understanding of the New Democrats.

[Taxation, April 11th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member is thinking of another budget. We were not able to cut capital gains taxes in the 2003 budget.

We were able to break through the welfare wall with the largest increases in the national child tax benefit in history. We were able to create a $900 million fund for early childhood development, which has enabled the Minister of Human Resources Development to obtain agreements with the provinces to support regulated child care across Canada. This was an important budget for advancing the--

[Iraq, April 11th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I think that what needs to be clear here is this: that Canada throughout this has given no sympathy and no comfort to the regime of Saddam Hussein.

Speaking of clarity, when asked by Don Newman the other day about whether he believed that for both the United Nations and NATO as ongoing entities that kind of approach in foreign policy is passé, the leader of the Alliance Party said, “I do...”, the United Nations is passé--

[Airline Industry, April 10th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the member might have a case to make if he could say that Canada is the only country in which air travel is down, but that is not the truth.

I have to point out to him, and I am sure he would acknowledge it, that only on Tuesday did he vote against a bill which would lower the air transportation security charge. How many ways can one have it?