John Solomon

[The Prime Minister, December 11th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister got the message last night when it was confirmed on the national news that Canadians across the country view that he has betrayed them. He promised to can, to kill, to axe the GST and now he denies saying it. He promised jobs, jobs, jobs but now he says that governments do not create jobs. Obviously jobs is a four letter word in the Liberal Party.

He promised to keep the Crow benefit but cancelled it. He promised stable funding to the CBC. How ironic, the day after his CBC town hall meeting the axe falls on 1,200 more CBC employees. He promised to protect health and education but instead he has slashed core funding of $7 billion from these programs to the provinces.

The Prime Minister is stealing Christmas from millions of unemployed Canadians who see a dismal future for themselves and their families. The Prime Minister has a lot to think about this holiday season.

I recommend that he get out of his office, go down to the shelter for the homeless and talk to his friend. I think his friend will advise him to keep his promises and stop the lies.

[Excise Tax Act, December 10th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, New Democrat members in the House this evening will vote no on this motion.

[Petitions, December 9th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 it is my pleasure to present a petition on behalf of constituents of Regina-Lumsden as well as individuals living in Edenwold, Milestone, Silton and other parts of the province of Saskatchewan.

The petitioners are concerned about the application of the GST to reading materials. They believe it is unfair and wrong. Education and literacy are critical to the development of our country and a regressive tax on reading hampers that development.

They call upon Parliament and the Government of Canada to demonstrate their commitment to education and literacy by eliminating sales tax on reading materials. They ask Parliament to zero rate books, magazines and newspapers under the GST and to zero rate reading materials under the proposed harmonized sales tax.

They also ask the Prime Minister and the Government of Canada to carry out his party's repeated and unequivocal promise, which he has broken, to remove federal sales tax from books, magazines and newspapers.

[Petitions, December 2nd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition, again from many of my constituents and other Canadians from across the country, concerning the unbelievably high cost of gasoline and propane.

The petitioners feel that they are being gouged at the pumps as well as with respect to propane for drying agricultural grain, for use in taxi cabs and in their homes for heating.

They ask the House of Commons and the Government of Canada to set up an energy price review commission to keep the price of gasoline, propane, home heating fuel and other energy products in check.

[Petitions, December 2nd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I rise pursuant to Standing Order 36 to present two petitions on behalf of my constituents and other Canadians.

The first petition asks Parliament not to proceed with the Liberal GST scheme or any other plan to further reduce the remaining corporate taxes at the expense of the middle class, working individuals and families.

The petition requests the government to undertake a fairer tax reform program so that consumers do not suffer even more financial insecurity and unfair costs at this critical time after receiving 47 tax increases from this Liberal government since it came into power in 1993.

[Energy Pricing, December 2nd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, in September I wrote the Liberal government asking for an investigation into gas prices. After two months of investigation, the Competition Bureau has yet to report its findings.

Now, in addition to high gas prices, we are seeing skyrocketing propane prices across western and northern Canada. Propane has increased by more than 130 per cent in Manitoba alone. This means an added major expense for farmers trying to dry their wet crops, homeowners paying higher costs to heat their homes and business people who use propane.

Meanwhile the Liberals in Ottawa continue to ignore the effects of energy price hikes. They continue to spin myths about consumers having a choice in buying their fuel from a handful of multinational oil companies that all raise prices at the same time, gouging Canadians equally.

Propane is the fuel of choice for many who are trying to be environmentally friendly but it is now being priced out of reach unjustifiably.

I am now calling on the Liberal government to take action to defend consumers, farmers and business people from propane price gouging by the big oil companies.

[Manganese-Based Fuel Additives Act, December 2nd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, New Democratic Party members in the House of Commons today vote yes on this matter.

[Manganese-Based Fuel Additives Act, December 2nd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, New Democrat members of Parliament present vote no on this matter.

[Ways And Means, December 2nd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, you did not take the vote with respect to the NDP caucus and with respect to ways and means Motion No. 12, New Democratic Party members in this House vote no on the motion.

[Ways And Means, December 2nd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the House of Commons how the NDP are going to vote on this matter. Are we voting, Mr. Speaker, or are we just discussing points of order?