House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 51% of the vote.
Canada-U.S. Relations November 25th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I do believe that it is time for the hon. member to move on and to begin to discuss some of the issues that were important as a result of the Prague Summit, including the expansion of NATO and the strong resolution on the issues in Iraq.
The individual in question indicated that indeed if the statement were made, it was one for which she apologized. I think that should be the end of the matter for now.
Canada-U.S. Relations November 25th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, it is time that we turned our attention to some of the accomplishments that took place in Prague, including ones with which Canada is directly identified, especially the addition of seven new members to the NATO alliance and the expression of united support by members of NATO for UN Security Council resolution 1441.
Canada-U.S. Relations November 25th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, it has already been said that those are not the views of the government. Secretary of State Colin Powell stated:
There will always be some who try to find negative parts of this relationship. I have been in professional, political and military life at a senior level for the last 20 years, going on 25 years, and I can attest to the fact that we have no better friend.
Canada-U.S. Relations November 25th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member may quote Saddam Hussein; personally, I prefer to quote Colin Powell, who said the following:
Canadians should understand that Americans, all Americans, understand that we have no better friend, no better neighbour, no better partner in the world, than Canada.
Securities November 20th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I do not think that that is the case. I think that the work done by Mr. MacKay was requested by interested groups and was well received by several provinces. I hope that all the provinces will participate in finding ways to improve securities regulation in Canada.
Securities November 20th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, first, I want to say that Mr. MacKay, who is a lawyer from Saskatchewan, did a very good job. We have received his report, which is now available.
Mr. MacKay indicated that if one of the models that he proposed were adopted, it would up to the provinces whether or not they participated. There is no question of forcing the provinces to do anything. If they want to continue to have a limited market in their province, it is up to them.
Budget Surplus November 20th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, it is easy to understand. There are two facts: first of all, the provincial debt load is half the federal debt load. Second, over the past 30 years there have been 25 federal deficits. Was there always a fiscal imbalance when these deficits took place? I do not think the hon. member will admit that there was.
Budget Surplus November 20th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member is well aware, in the year 2000 we announced federal tax reductions totalling $100 billion. It is unfair to suggest that there will be no other tax breaks or increases in federal government spending on federal programs or transfer payments to the provinces.
Financial Institutions November 20th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I have already been to the committee of the House of Commons. I was there just two weeks ago.
I have asked the committees, both in the House and the Senate, for their advice. I presume they do not need my advice to give me their advice.
In any event, I have indicated to the chairman of the committee that I would be happy to make myself available to the Senate committee at an appropriate time. In the meantime, in helping fill out the scope of the public interest considerations related to possible mergers of financial institutions, I think that is a committee well qualified to give us advice without any further input from me.
Canada Pension Plan November 19th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, we expect the CPP Investment Board to operate on the basis upon which it was created, that is to make prudent investments, to do so on the basis that we need to see the fund meet the requirements of Canadians for their pension incomes in decades ahead. We know from experience that long term investments such as those that it has been making will pay those dividends.