Lost his last election, in 2000, with 42% of the vote.
Petitions March 1st, 1995
Mr. Speaker, the final petition I wish to present is on behalf of a number of citizens in mining communities in western Canada who call upon Parliament to take action to create growth in employment in the mining sector, to promote exploration, to rebuild Canada's mineral reserves, to sustain mining communities and to keep mining in Canada.
Petitions March 1st, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present today pursuant to Standing Order 36.
I have one petition signed by approximately 400 members of the United Steel Workers of America, Local 5890 working at IPSCO Inc. in my constituency. This petition pertains to the Canadian Income Tax Act which states that a pension plan member cannot accrue more than one year of pensionable service in a year, thereby eliminating any way to make up pensionable service time accrued.
This petition calls upon Parliament to urge the government to change the appropriate regulations to allow for pensionable service to be accrued over 1,800 hours based on straight time hours worked.
It is my pleasure to present that petition to the House.
Parliament Of Canada Act March 1st, 1995
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-314, an act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (other pension income).
Mr. Speaker, the bill which I am introducing today is entitled an act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (other pension income). It will require all pension or retiring allowance payments received by a member of Parliament that are paid from public funds to be deducted from the member's sessional allowance.
This bill will deal with another dimension of the issue of double dipping. Members of Parliament who receive publicly funded pensions while at the same time receiving a full member of Parliament salary will be affected. The bill asks that the House of Commons subtract pension income from a sitting MP's salary, thus preventing double dipping, or receiving two incomes from only one taxpayer. This bill would make all MPs declare all public pension income they receive while sitting as an elected member of Parliament.
Those members with publicly funded pensions for previous service in: provincial legislatures; municipal governments; the public service at the federal, provincial and municipal levels; or as former judges; members of the Canadian forces; former peace officers; crown corporation employees; and former employees of school boards, hospital boards or any other publicly funded organization will forgo receiving two incomes for doing one job as a member of Parliament.
Canadians believe it is unfair to the tax paying public that a member of Parliament receive a full salary while also receiving a public pension.
This bill treats municipal, provincial and federal government-
Agriculture February 28th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, this budget leaves farmers reeling in western Canada. It has the effect of a hurricane on agriculture. It will leave a trail of destruction and devastation throughout rural Canada.
It will cost rural families one-third of their net income and one-third the value of their land. Farmers work hard to put food on our tables and only ask to be treated fairly. The Liberal government responds by attacking farmers with ruthless cuts.
The minister of agriculture has betrayed rural Canadians by taking away the Crow benefit, reducing dairy subsidies by 30 per cent and abandoning more rail lines.
Farmers are now trapped between dwindling incomes and little prospect of selling their farms. The treatment the government has shown to rural Canada is unforgivable and will cause
permanent damage to what was once the proud breadbasket of this land. This is a devastating budget for western Canadians and a shameful day for a Liberal government that promised more.
Agriculture February 28th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, the headline in the Regina Leader-Post this morning says it all in one word: devastated. This budget leaves farmers-
Gasoline Prices February 22nd, 1995
Mr. Speaker, on budget day Canadians will be preparing themselves for another tax increase on gasoline prices.
The Liberal government will take the responsibility of justifying these high taxes to Canadians. However consumers have already had to deal with many increases in gas prices when oil companies hiked the prices at the pumps for no reason at all. These increases are invisible taxes on consumers by the multinational oil companies and have not been justified.
The Liberal government not only condones this price gouging but encourages it. In a recent report the Bureau of Competition Policy has said that oil companies can charge whatever they want for gasoline.
Canadians need an energy pricing review commission with the power to investigate gas price increases and when unjustified roll them back. I challenge the Liberal government in the upcoming budget to get out of bed with the oil companies and give consumers a fair deal by immediately setting up an energy price review commission.
Income Tax Act February 14th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, members of the New Democratic Party caucus vote yes on this motion.
Government Organization Act (Federal Agencies) February 14th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, members of the New Democratic Party caucus vote no on this motion.
Communications Security Establishment December 13th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, when inflation is high in Canada, bank profits are high. When inflation is low in Canada, bank profits are high. When the economy is in recession, bank profits are high. When the economy is in a growth mode, bank profits are high. When interest rates are high in this country, bank profits are high. When interest rates are low, bank profits are high. They are high in every circumstance when it comes to economic indicators.
The fact is that bank profits continue to be high in this country. In view of the fact that the chartered banks donated to the Liberal Party over $700,000 to the last campaign in Canada and the financial institutions as a whole donated over a million dollars to the Liberal Party slush fund in the last campaign, I am curious to know why the banks continue to get a free ride when it comes to contributing their fair share to building Canada.
In the last year alone the six major chartered banks in Canada reported profits of $4.3 billion. The chartered banks have an important role in our country's economy due largely to the regulations that are in place under the Bank Act. With the privilege of banking should come the responsibility of assisting in the development of our economy.
The Minister of Finance agrees that Canada's deficit is a serious problem. He, in consultation with the Minister of Human Resources Development, has made it clear that they will be making cuts and reductions to Canada's social security programs. Many Canadians have experienced the hardship of the recession and also faced cutbacks to their unemployment insurance coverage.
The Minister of Finance has made it clear that we will all be tightening our belts to help pay down Canada's debt. Meanwhile we have the banks in Canada that have made huge profits during hard economic times. They have made their profits on the backs of Canadians. It is money that is made on the spread of interest rates, financial transactions and on the government debt.
Another reason is bank service charges. Service charges are one of the fastest growth areas for banks. They allow the banks to continue making money in hard times and in good times.
I believe the government should ask the banks to justify their banking practices and their actions. As responsible corporate citizens the banks have a moral responsibility to pay their fair share of taxes and to reinvest their wealth in Canada and create jobs.
The Minister of Finance has a responsibility to regulate the banks and ensure that they participate in our country's economic recovery.
Bank customers receive interest rates of 2 per cent or 3 per cent on their savings accounts while being charged up to 11 per cent on their loans. The interest rate spread is wide and the banks are the winners on the spread.
After 127 years of Liberal and Conservative governments in Canada we are approaching $550 billion in debt. There has been no job creation as a result of this latest bank manoeuvre. The banks have made profit by cutting back on staff as a matter of fact. A year go the Royal Bank announced the need to slash 3,000 jobs from its payroll as well as another 1,100 jobs from its newly acquired Royal Trust, because of the recession its said.
Is the Royal Bank now willing to create 4,000 new jobs or is it going to continue to make profit at the expense of its former employees? The answer to that is not likely.
The Royal Bank in 1993 year end made profits of $324 million and paid absolutely no taxes. As a matter of fact, it received from the federal government and the revenue department $5 million in tax credits.
Two years ago the CIBC announced cutbacks of 2,500 jobs. In fact, 14,000 banking jobs have been eliminated in the past four years. Banks reasoned that cutbacks were necessary but now we see their profit margins. The banks lost money on bad real estate loans primarily over ambitious commercial projects in foreign countries. As well, they have lost money loaning money to other countries without providing the same equity backup and guarantees that individuals in Canada must provide.
I am asking in summary that the government provide leadership on this issue and ensure that the banks make a stronger contribution by paying their fair share of taxes back to this country and to institute a fair interest rate policy and to justify some of their monopolistic practices so that Canadians do benefit from banks when they make a profit.
Employment Equity Act December 13th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, the NDP members who are in the House will vote yea.