Bob Rae

[Taxation, October 18th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

One practical step that could be taken to deal with the lack of progressivity in the tax system--which, by the way, was referred to yesterday by the Minister of Finance as a big plus for Canada--would be to make the non-refundable tax credits refundable. Those tax credits apply to kids who are taking piano lessons, kids who are on the margins. Their parents are so poor that they cannot pay taxes.

Why will the Prime Minister not change the bill before the House and ensure those kids can get those benefits?

[Barney Danson and Reg Alcock, October 18th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, this House, the Liberal Party and Canada have lost in the last few days two fine and unforgettable people.

Barney Danson was a member of this House for 16 years. He was a popular minister in many portfolios, particularly the minister of defence, a veteran of the Second World War of great distinction and courage, and a man of great good humour and good will. He passed away peacefully last night surrounded by his family.

Reg Alcock was a member of this House from 1993 to 2006 and a minister in the Martin government. He returned to teaching in recent years and continued to consult widely on issues of public policy. He lived his life with gusto and extraordinary energy and died suddenly last week in Winnipeg.

Barney and Reg shared something greater than their party affiliation, which they wore with great pride; they were politicians and public servants and proud of that as well. They knew it to be a life not without difficulty, but a life of good humour, of great effort and warm fellowship.

Let us put partisanship aside for a moment and say that these were good men. They served their country well and their communities with great pride and great affection.

[The Economy, October 17th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, the question is very simple. Why would you persist in a payroll tax, which everyone in the country knows is a killer of jobs? Why would you persist with a payroll tax just at the moment when unemployment is a big issue?

[The Economy, October 17th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, the minister can fantasize however much he wants after being prompted by some of his colleagues to come up with these fantastic theories.

I just want him to focus for a moment. I know he can do it--

[The Economy, October 17th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, the problem remains. There is noise and wind coming from the other side, but that is all right. The government cannot deny that it is problematic to impose a new $2 billion tax when the economy is extremely fragile.

How can the minister explain this complete contradiction in the Conservative Party's policy?

[The Economy, October 17th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, to the same minister, he is talking about tax credits to small business of roughly $165 million, which sounds terrific, including all of his talk about how the government has never increased any taxes. However, could the minister please explain why his government is persisting on the truly retrograde path of taxing small business an additional $2 billion and employees $2 billion at the same time the economy is so fragile?

Why is the government giving people $165 million and taking $2 billion out of their pockets? Where is the logic in that?

[Canada-U.S. Relations, October 5th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, I did not hear an answer to the second question. Perhaps I could hear an answer to this one.

Could the Prime Minister explain why he would be signing this deal when the Obama administration is actively promoting buy America, which is in effect anti-Canada; when we are about to be hit with a ports tax in the United States, which again discriminates directly against Canadian economic interests; and when we still have not resolved the food labelling issue?

Why would the Prime Minister be signing this deal when all these issues are still very much on the table?

[Canada-U.S. Relations, October 5th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, given the Prime Minister's notorious commitment to consulting this House, to transparency, and to openness, I wonder if the Prime Minister could give us his assurance today that, before any agreement with the United States on perimeter security is signed, the agreement will be tabled in this House and open to parliamentary scrutiny and debate.

[Champlain Bridge, October 5th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, there is no bridge and no plan. All we have is an announcement. There is a difference. The problem we see is that the Government of Quebec was not there for the announcement, and if there is a public transit aspect, it is absolutely essential to have the full co-operation of the Province of Quebec.

How does the Prime Minister explain this off-the-cuff announcement, which has nothing to do with a real plan or a real bridge?

[Suicide Prevention, October 4th, 2011]

In the same vein, Mr. Speaker, we have the situation affecting the other large group of Canadians for whom the federal government has a very clear constitutional responsibility and that of course is the aboriginal population of the country.

The rate of suicide among young aboriginals has skyrocketed. It is high right across the board in community after community. We cannot take any pride in what is taking place. Clear action does have to be taken.

I would like to again ask the Prime Minister. Could he please take us through the measures which the government plans to take to ensure that we are leading the way in this question and not falling--