Blake Richards

[Taxation, April 30th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, our Conservative government has been working hard to help Canadians during these tough economic times. Through our economic action plan, we are delivering for Canadians. We are reducing taxes for Canadian families, creating jobs and helping Canadians who are hardest hit by this global recession.

The Liberals, however, have a different agenda: higher taxes for Canadians. From increasing the GST, to ensuring the end of the universal child care benefit, to imposing a job-killing carbon tax, it is clear that the Liberal Party is out of touch with Canadians.

The Liberal Party recently reaffirmed its economic clumsiness when its leader announced, “We will have to raise taxes”.

Canadians have waited long enough for the details of this tax hike policy. Perhaps this weekend the Liberal leader can finally come clean with Canadians and tell them which taxes he will raise, by much he will raise them, and who will be forced to pay for these higher taxes.

[Liberal Party of Canada, April 2nd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, imagine if a political party tells voters in B.C. that it does not want to help the auto industry, then in Ontario pretends it never has said such words. Imagine if a political party champions a job-killing carbon tax one day, then backs away from it the next. Imagine if a political party would say on the east coast that it supports the seal hunt, then back in Ottawa introduces a bill that would ban the seal hunt. Imagine if a political party went to one province and praised its natural resource industries, then went to another province and said that natural resources were basement industries.

It is actually not that hard to imagine, because they are the hypocritical views of the Liberal Party of Canada.

[Canadian Forces Superannuation Act, March 25th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, I rise to address the House today on Bill C-201, which proposes to amend the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superannuation Act. I would like to focus my remarks today primarily on how the changes would affect the RCMP.

Let me begin by saying that I have a tremendous respect for the people who serve this country in uniform. In the House, on the public safety committee, in my riding of Wild Rose and, indeed, on every occasion that I can, I work hard to advocate for the people in law enforcement and to understand and address their needs and concerns. The record will certainly show this.

I fully support them in the great job that they do and join with all Canadians in giving them the respect and support they deserve. I have always been a vocal champion of the RCMP and nothing will ever change my steadfast support for the men and women who proudly wear the Mountie uniform in the service of Canada.

It is therefore important to note that Bill C-201 has nothing to do with how we value the work of the RCMP or that of our brave men and women of the Canadian armed forces. Bill C-201 simply proposes to eliminate the reduction in pensions to retired members of the RCMP and Canadian Forces once they begin receiving Canada pension plan benefits normally at the age of 65.

Some retirees argue that this is a clawback and that they are being denied benefits that they have paid for throughout their careers, but this is simply not the case.

I want to assure the House that retired RCMP officers are in fact receiving the full pension benefits to which they are entitled based on their plan design and the contributions they have made. No money is being clawed back. Statements that retired members paid full contributions to both the CPP and their employer-sponsored pension plan are factually incorrect.

This is a complicated issue, but the problem appears to lie in a basic misunderstanding of how the RCMP pension contributions and benefits are calculated.

When the Canada pension plan was introduced in 1966, most Canadian employers, including the federal government, decided to integrate their pension plans with the CPP rather than stacking the two plans. Integration ensures that retirees would have an acceptable level of retirement income without the burden of paying full contributions to both plans throughout their working lives.

For members of the RCMP, as well as Canadian Forces personnel and other federal employees, this means paying a reduced contribution rate on the portion of their salary that is subject to CPP contributions and with reduced contributions comes reduced benefits. It is that simple.

At age 65, the normal age at which CPP retirement pensions are payable, or earlier if CPP disability benefits are received, the bridge pension paid to former RCMP members from the time they retire to when they become eligible for the CPP is eliminated. In most cases, the total pension income available to a retiree after age 65 is essentially unchanged. The only difference is that the income is now received from two sources rather than the previous one source. It is coming now from the employer-sponsored pension plan and the CPP.

By proposing that the bridge pension be made a lifetime benefit, Bill C-201 would fundamentally change the design of the plan with prohibitive long-term financial implications. Adopting these proposed amendments for all RCMP pensioners would increase the past service liability for the RCMP pension plan by more than $1 billion and would result in additional ongoing costs of tens of millions of dollars per year.

I would remind all hon. members that the RCMP pension plan is the smallest of the three federal plans. The Canadian Forces pension plan would incur a one-time past service liability of several billion dollars if Bill C-201 becomes law and ongoing costs would certainly approach around $100 million per year. The legislation is silent on how this increase in liabilities would be paid.

These costs cannot be borne by the taxpayer alone, so the only other solution is to increase pension contribution rates for working members of the RCMP and Canadian Forces. Pension contributions would then jump by as much as 30% for current and future plan members. There is no evidence to suggest that current working members would agree to such an increase.

Again, the potential costs of such a measure are sobering. Converting the bridge benefit to a lifetime benefit for all members of the Public Service Pension Plan could cost the government three and a half times more than the cost of providing this change to both the RCMP and the Canadian Forces pension plans.

All members of the RCMP on their retirement are provided with an estimate of how much their RCMP pension will change when they turn 65 and start receiving CPP benefits. Moreover, the RCMP has gone to great lengths to make sure its employees are aware of how their pension plan is integrated with the CPP through written explanations and pension newsletters and bulletins, through information provided on websites and through the annual benefit statements sent to all pensioners and serving members.

The pensions paid to retired RCMP officers and military personnel are already generous by Canadian standards, and the level of taxpayer support for them is certainly substantial.

I have the utmost respect for the great work that our men and women in uniform perform on behalf of all Canadians. They are the people who keep our communities safe and secure, even at the risk of their own lives. Therefore, if there are other ways to recognize the contributions to Canadians and to Canada without taking on an enormous financial burden, I would be most pleased to consider them.

[Wild Rose, Alberta, March 23rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, today I invite the world to come and see why my riding of Wild Rose is the most beautiful piece of country Canada has to offer.

This large region of Alberta has attracted visitors world-wide since the Canadian Pacific Railway brought the first tourists to Banff's mineral springs.

Generations have fallen in love with our land and built our vibrant communities that rise from the rolling prairie or nestle in the Rocky Mountains.

It is a region steeped in the history of the aboriginal peoples who have lived there for millennia, and the settlers who opened the Canadian west. That frontier heritage is reflected in our many summer rodeos and festivals.

Wild Rose is a place to walk nature trails and marvel at some of the last untouched wilderness in North America. It is a playground for hikers, skiers, campers and anglers. It is a place where elk and bighorn sheep saunter the streets of our mountain towns.

Wild Rose has placed out a welcome mat for the world to come and see.

[Agriculture, March 4th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, it has been my privilege as a member of the agriculture committee to work for the benefit of farmers in my riding of Wild Rose and all across Canada. However, I doubt Liberal members hold that same conviction.

The Liberals recently tried to undermine the Canadian Cattlemen's Association's support for expanding beef exports by siding instead with organizations that favoured failed protectionist policies.

However, the Liberals' stance now is much different from what they told farmers before the election. On October 9, 2008, in response to a CCA questionnaire, the Liberal Party said, “The key to supporting cattle production is to expand export opportunities”.

Since that is exactly what this Conservative government has been successfully doing, I have to wonder what it is in the Liberals' DNA that compels them to reject the very few good ideas they actually come across.

Why do Liberals always say one thing and do another?

[Correctional Service Canada, February 2nd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the work of our Conservative government in combating the use of illegal drugs within our federal prisons.

There is a federal prison just miles from our family farm, where I grew up, and I am all too aware that drugs are prevalent in our prisons and are a source of income and control for gangs.

These are serious and longstanding problems that have been overlooked for decades and are now being addressed by our Conservative government through a bold and innovative initiative.

We have committed significant and meaningful funding toward an anti-drug strategy, a strategy which will, over the course of the next five years, go a long way toward the detection and elimination of drugs in our federal prisons.

In addition to these initiatives, Correctional Service Canada has also introduced a zero tolerance drug policy to further respond to this problem and to better protect correctional staff. Eliminating drugs in prisons is an important step toward the rehabilitation of offenders and the creation of a safer environment inside our federal prisons. It is a step, I am proud to say, that has been taken by this Conservative government.

[The Budget, January 29th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, there is a very stark contrast between the approach of our government and the approach of the previous government in those times.

The first thing I would draw to members' attention would be the fact that our government undertook to deal with the situation very quickly and in consultation with many groups and individuals across Canada. We listened to Canadians and took action based on what we were hearing from them.

Another very strong contrast between the actions we have taken is that the previous Liberal government chose, at that time, to slash funding to health care and to other payments to provinces. That was done on the backs of the provinces. Our government has chosen instead to try to stimulate the economy through spending and through working with provinces and municipalities in a partnership to deal with the times we are facing. That is how our government has approached it. Rather than trying to put it on the backs of other levels of government, we have worked with them to try to get through these tough times.

We have also provided tax credits and tax cuts for Canadians to help them stimulate the economy through consumer spending and consumer confidence. That is the difference between the action our government is taking and the action we have seen on the other side.

[The Budget, January 29th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, certainly the hon. member is well aware of the infrastructure funding provided in our budget.

We are also making available up to $2 billion over two years in direct low-cost loans to municipalities to help finance improvements related to housing infrastructure and such things as sewers, water lines and other regeneration projects in our neighbourhoods. Municipalities will have access to this significant new funding through provincial, territorial and municipal infrastructure initiatives.

We are doing a lot to provide for municipal infrastructure in terms of providing both funding and loans to municipalities to ensure that they have the resources to deal with the infrastructure challenges they are facing. Because of the explosive growth we have had in my riding, we certainly face many of these challenges. It is an honour to say that we will be helping those municipalities with those needs.

[The Budget, January 29th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise today in debate on the budget.

In the lead-up to this budget, the earliest federal budget in recent history, our government undertook the broadest and most comprehensive consultations ever. Our government met with and listened to thousands of individuals and groups across this great country. The Prime Minister, the finance minister and others met with leaders of business and industry and with economists, community groups, provincial and municipal governments, members of the opposition and other stakeholders.

Personally, I spent six weeks travelling throughout my vast and diverse riding of Wild Rose listening to constituents' suggestions and concerns. I held open houses, community office hours, and attended various other meetings and events throughout the riding. Constituents in Wild Rose shared their thoughts with me verbally, both in person and on the phone, by email and letter, and they filled out surveys that we distributed at meetings.

Canadians shared with us their views, their hopes and their wishes for this country and for the budget, and we listened. We have delivered with Canada's economic action plan.

This economic action plan is what is necessary for the circumstances in which we find ourselves today. It is extraordinary action for an extraordinary situation.

The global economic crisis did not start here in Canada, but it is affecting us. While the depth and magnitude of this downturn are broader than anyone could have anticipated, we were certainly prepared for it.

Over the past couple of years we paid down $38 billion on the national debt. We strengthened our financial system. We reduced the overall tax burden on Canadians to its lowest level in nearly 50 years, including cutting the GST from 7% to 6% to 5%.

That is why this past fall the World Economic Forum rated our banking system as among the safest in the world. That is why we entered the global recession later than other countries, why we are not as deep into the recession as other countries, and why we are expected to come out of recession earlier than other countries.

It is also why many other nations are emulating our actions, actions that have been widely viewed as the most prudent course of action leading up to this global economic recession.

We were ahead of the curve and our Prime Minister led the way for the rest of the world. That is why Canada is one of the best positioned countries during these global economic challenges.

Let me now address the decision to run a deficit, as I know there are those in Wild Rose who will be concerned about this decision.

Allow me to be very clear. We are in the midst of an unprecedented global economic slowdown, and we are taking the targeted action that we feel is necessary to stimulate our economy.

Let me be equally clear that this stimulus and the accompanying deficit is only temporary. We fully expect to return to a surplus situation in only a few short years. At that time our priority will be to repay the deficits expected in the next four years.

I liken our present situation to the average Canadian family or small business. When times are tough we must sometimes draw on a line of credit or use a credit card for a necessary purchase. However, when times improve and if we are being responsible, we immediately pay down the credit line and try to set aside money for a rainy day. That is what this government is doing. That is what we were doing when we paid off $38 billion of the national debt.

That is why this situation will be temporary and we will return to surpluses and debt reduction when we come out of this global economic storm.

Our government is taking aggressive action to stimulate the economy with almost $12 billion to improve local and key national infrastructure.

Many of the municipalities in my riding of Wild Rose have been among the fastest growing in the entire country over the last several years. Such explosive growth brings infrastructure challenges, the need for roads, overpasses, water and sewer, recreation and cultural facilities, to catch up with the increase in population. This investment in community infrastructure will help to address these challenges.

This investment also provides the double benefit of addressing community needs while stimulating the economy in the process, providing and creating employment for Canadians, and flowing money through the economy for needed supplies and materials.

I am proud to report that among these projects is the funding to twin the final phase of the Trans-Canada Highway in Banff National Park in my riding all the way to the B.C. border. This is something that I know my predecessor Myron Thompson fought very hard for because I worked alongside him as he suffered through the inaction and indecision and complete ignorance of the former Liberal ministers on this file. It took a Conservative government to finally get action and to get this done and now it will be completed all the way to the B.C. border.

We are also taking action on another pressing need in my riding and throughout Canada, that of housing for seniors. As our population ages, this housing need will only grow larger in upcoming years. Our government is anticipating that need and providing for it now.

Our government is also stimulating housing construction through such measures as increasing the amount Canadians can withdraw from their RRSPs under the first-time home buyers' plan to provide a down payment for their new homes. We are also providing a tax credit to assist first-time home buyers with the costs associated with their home purchases and a renovation tax credit that will assist Canadians in undertaking renovations and improvements to their homes.

This program has already generated significant interest in my riding and, I am sure, across the country. It will be a huge benefit for many Canadian families. This tax credit encourages those who have been thinking about doing renovations maybe now, maybe in the future, to undertake them right now, which again creates the double benefit of helping Canadians with their needs while maintaining jobs and providing stimulus for the economy in these troubling times.

The very best stimulus for an economy is consumer confidence and consumer spending, and that is also the rationale behind our tax reductions, which are aimed at low- and middle-income Canadians, our seniors and our small businesses.

Canada's small and medium size businesses are the heart of Canada's economy. To help support our small business owners and the benefits and jobs they create for our economy, we are not only lowering their taxes but also ensuring their access to financing. Many small business owners in my riding have pointed out to me that they were facing this problem, and I am happy to be able to stand in the House of Commons today and report to them that their concerns were heard and that we are acting to ensure that they have access to the financing they need.

Many business owners in my riding, particularly in the Bow Valley, rely very heavily on tourism. That is why I am proud to report that we have provided funding in our economic action plan to support the Canadian Tourism Commission in marketing Canada as an international tourist destination.

The hon. Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism is leading the development of a national tourism strategy. I will be happy to support her in those efforts. The most internationally known tourist destination in all Canada is the picturesque Banff National Park, which is in my riding. Our government has recognized the importance of our national parks in our tourism strategy by providing significant funding for improvements and enhancements to Parks Canada's visitor facilities.

Just as the Bow Valley relies on tourism, so do many parts of my riding rely on agriculture as a major part of our economy. Through many actions, including items contained in this budget, we are supporting our farmers. This support includes providing $500 million for an agricultural flexibility program that will support innovation in the industry. We will help to make credit available for new farmers and to help support farmers in transferring the farm to the next generation. This is an important first step in helping to ensure the future survival of the family farm.

We have listened to the calls from the livestock industry in providing funding for increased slaughter capacity here in Canada.

Together we face a global economic crisis that did not originate here, but which is affecting us and will continue to affect us. Through the actions taken by our government to prepare us for these times and through our economic action plan, with the help of all Canadians we will weather this storm and come out of it stronger than ever before.

[Resumption of debate on Address in Reply, November 27th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, the member mentioned tough times. If we want to see true tough times in this country, we would put the NDP in this place over here.

My colleague mentioned tax cuts. I would be hard-pressed to believe that removing tax cuts would be the proper way to stimulate the economy. Our government foresaw what was coming which is the reason for many of the tax cuts that we put in place, both for businesses and individuals.