House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2019, with 47% of the vote.
Poverty November 20th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has his facts all wrong. One of the earliest moves of Canada's new government was to extend the national homelessness initiative. With full funding from previous years, we carried it through in exactly the same format and process as before. Also, Canada's new government added $37 million in assistance to the homeless that the previous government did not even bother to spend.
We are taking real action: promises made, promises kept.
Poverty November 20th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, we recognize that children are the future of this country. That is why we have to invest in them.
That is why we have to make sure that the needs of different families are recognized. Because not all families are the same, that is why we delivered the universal child care benefit. That is why we are assisting families with the workers investment tax benefits. That is why we took so many thousands of people off the tax roll with the last budget. We are going to help alleviate poverty in this country.
Child Care November 20th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, his government sat on its hands for 13 years promising to help parents but it never did.
One of the top five priorities on which we have already delivered was the $100 monthly universal child care benefit that was given directly to the parents of each child under the age of six. As of April 1, 2007, we will have the incentives in place to create the new child care spaces.
Child Care November 10th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, once again, the member opposite has her facts more than a little wrong. We recognize that there was the supplement for the under seven crowd. That is why we have extended that program and combined it. Now no parent will be worse off for receiving the universal child care benefit than they were before.
Literacy November 9th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, we are going to focus our efforts on literacy education, unlike the previous government. It paid literacy groups $34,000 simply for media consultants. It paid for travel budgets. It paid $34,000 for a group to develop a logo. That does not help people who want to learn to read and write.
Today I announced five new programs that will help Canadians learn to read and write.
Literacy November 9th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, as I explained to the literacy groups at lunch today, we are going to be honouring all our existing commitments for literacy projects with them. I have said that many times in the House.
I might also point out that we are not cutting literacy training. However, we believe Canadian taxpayers expect us to spend money on literacy education, not on supporting websites and overblown travel budgets for a literacy industry.
Guaranteed Income Supplement November 7th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, I am surprised that the hon. member would be criticizing the department for following the same procedures that the hon. member's own government put in place. Nothing has changed in the way the programs were administered in the last several years. They are being done in the same way the previous government did.
That is why I have asked my officials to go ahead and try to find ways to prevent people from falling through the cracks.
Literacy November 2nd, 2006
Mr. Speaker, as I explained at some length and very often to the member last night, the existing programs and existing commitments are all going to be honoured.
Going forward we are going to realize savings for Canadians by focusing on programs that deliver measurable results in helping people learn literacy and numeracy skills.
Government Programs November 2nd, 2006
Mr. Speaker, I would still like to know why that member tabled a motion asking for $2 million to be cut from social development spending.
Government Programs November 2nd, 2006
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is complaining about cuts to programs and yet he himself just tabled a motion to take $2 million of spending out of social development. Why is that?