Ken Epp

[Employment Insurance, November 19th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I used to teach math, as you know. The other day I hauled out my calculator and did a very simple calculation using what we call ratio and proportion, computing a reduction in the number of unemployed and the premiums.

I just did this using very rough figures and almost no assumptions at all. Guess what? Those very rough numbers came out to a premium needed of $2.05 per hundred. Amazing, because that is identical to the number that the chief actuary of the fund came up with. Yet the government continues to take $2.40 and it wants us to cheer.

One of the witnesses at the finance committee said that the money was held in trust by the Canadian government on behalf of people who might lose their jobs. He said that their failure to do that is a breach of trust.

I call on the government to fix the problem, to fix it right and to fix it soon.

[Division No. 54, November 18th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The member has directly said that members here are not telling the truth. He has said that directly. He has said that the party stands up here. There is no party in the House; there are members in the House. We stand up as members. I demand that he withdraw that. What he is saying is untrue.

[Division No. 54, November 18th, 1999]

You don't do anything about it.

[Division No. 54, November 18th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The rules of the House require specifically that there be no aspersion of motive that is not right to other members. This member and the member beside him are engaging in that big time. I ask that you call upon them to withdraw those untruths and start dealing correctly here.

[Petitions, November 18th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the outrage of the people of Canada against this inactive Liberal government continues. I have 146 more signatures on petitions that express this outrage with respect to its inaction on the issue of child pornography.

They ask that the government do whatever is necessary to reinstate immediately the criminal code provision that makes the possession of child pornography illegal.

[Taxation, November 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government thinks that Canadians' paycheques are not really their own. Liberals believe that one-half of every paycheque should be confiscated from the person who earned it. The Liberals are ripping off Canadians.

When my wife and I were first married, many years ago, we decided that she would be a full time mom and I would earn the family income. At that time we were able to meet our needs on my modest salary, including purchasing our first home. That is because my pay stub tax bite was only about 15%. Now Canadian taxpayers are losing nearly half of their income to the taxman.

Over the last 30 years Canadians have paid an increasing proportion of their earnings in taxes to heavy-handed, uncaring, uncompassionate Liberal and Tory governments. Canadians want to keep more of the money they work so hard to earn.

The Liberals keep saying that they have lowered taxes, but the pay stub evidence shows that is not factually correct. It is time for the Liberals to either lower taxes or get out.

[Taxation, November 5th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, by the year 2000 Canada will have the second highest corporate income tax rate in the world. Only Japan's will be higher. Besides high corporate taxes, Canadian businesses face increasing contributions to CPP and the great rip off of excessive EI contributions.

Why does the finance minister not take for once the advice from his own advisers, do what is wise and prudent, and reduce corporate tax rates to keep industry, companies, professionals and workers in Canada?

[Petitions, November 3rd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, my second petition adds 279 names to the approximate 3,500 received from my riding and the over 300,000 names tabled in the House on the issue of child pornography.

They plead with the government to take whatever measures are necessary to reinstate immediately the criminal code provision which makes the possession of child pornography illegal.

[Petitions, November 3rd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I have several petitions to present today. The first one adds 32 more names to those families who choose to raise their children at home with one of the parents staying home with them. They are calling for an end to the discriminatory tax practices with regard to that choice.

[Homeowners' Freedom From Double Taxation Act, November 3rd, 1999]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-301, an act to amend the Income Tax Act (deduction of property taxes paid in respect of a principal residence).

Mr. Speaker, when homeowners pay their property tax they pay it with money on which they have paid income tax. For example, if they have a $2,400 property tax bill, they have to earn $4,000 in order to pay it.

We are opposed to double taxation and so I am introducing this private member's bill which would do away with that anomaly. It is based on the principle that Canadian taxpayers should not have to pay taxes on money that they earn for the sole purpose of paying taxes.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)