House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2019, with 50% of the vote.
Motion for Papers September 17th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, would you be so kind as to call Notice of Motion for the Production of Papers No. P-33, in the name of the hon. member for Battlefords—Lloydminster.
Motion No. P-33
That an Order of the House do issue for copies of all memos, e-mails, letters and any documents with respect to the issue of goods and services tax fraud between the Minister of Finance, Minister of National Revenue and officials at the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency.
Motion for Papers September 17th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, Notice of Motion for the Production of Papers No. P-41, in the name of the hon. member for Edmonton—Strathcona, is acceptable to the government and the papers are tabled immediately.
Motion No. P-41
That an Order of the House do issue for copies of all documents and correspondence pertaining to the decision made in 1995 by Revenue Canada to change the way in which it accounts for Goods and Services Tax input tax credit fraud.
*Question No. 239 September 17th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I ask that the remaining questions be allowed to stand.
Question No. 233 September 17th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, would you be so kind as to call Starred Questions Nos. 238 and 239. I ask that the answers to Question Nos. 238 and 239 be made orders for return. These returns would be tabled immediately.
Questions Passed as Orders for Returns September 17th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, if Question No. 233 could be made an order for return, the return would be tabled immediately.
Petitions September 17th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, as you are aware, I am unable to table petitions in the House as the parliamentary secretary, but I can do so as the member for my riding.
Pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the honour to table a petition from the constituents of West Nova, Nova Scotia. This petition concerns rural route postal carriers and their salaries. The petitioners are asking Parliament to amend subsection 13(5) of the Canada Post Corporation Act.
Government Response to Petitions September 17th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 20 petitions.
Chief Actuary Act September 16th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, if he is against an employer, in this case municipalities, having to pay EI premiums, perhaps it is because he is against the whole program of employment insurance. He is against the idea that municipal employees should have this employment insurance and should be protected from losing their employment and having the benefit of having employment insurance. He is against that obviously, because how else is it going to work?
It is his former party that is always talking about the need to have the EI system more like regular insurance where everyone pays in and if they become unemployed, they receive benefits. How could that be done if all employers did not pay in?
As I said at the beginning, this argument, this question, is completely illogical.
Chief Actuary Act September 16th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to respond on behalf of my colleague, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance.
The member's question was illogical when he first asked it in the House and it continues to be an ill-constructed sophistry.
I want to make it clear that municipalities are treated no differently than any other employers. All workers and employers are required by the Employment Insurance Act to contribute EI premiums on all insurable earnings up to an annual maximum.
The fact that the municipality as the employer raises revenues through property taxes is completely irrelevant. Municipalities are treated like any other employer.
Indeed, I would like to take the opportunity to point out that municipalities, like all other employers, have benefited from nine consecutive years of EI premium reductions. The government even reduced the premium rate for 2003 to $2.10 from $2.20.
As to legislation implemented in budget 2003, it set the 2004 premium rate at $1.98. This will mean savings for employers and employees of $1.1 billion next year compared to this year. This will represent the 10th consecutive annual reduction in EI premiums since 1994 and will result in savings to employees and employers, including municipalities, of $9.7 million next year compared to the 1994 rate of $3.07.
In conclusion, I want to reiterate that the EI program treats municipalities the same as any other employer.
Canadian Idol September 16th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, tonight an important decision will be made. Tonight Canadians from coast to coast will be intently fixated on their televisions as history unfolds before them.
Tonight, Mr. Speaker, Gary Beals is going to beat one of your constituents and become the first ever Canadian Idol.
This incredibly talented young man from Cherry Brook, Nova Scotia, has become the pride of Halifax, pouring his heart and soul into performance after performance and proving once again and once and for all that Nova Scotia is the home of the country's most talented performers.
I also want to mention how struck I have been by the breadth of talent this show has brought to Canadians. Both our diversity and our similarities have been obvious the whole way through.
I want to wish Gary, his family and friends all the best and tell him that as proud as all of us in Nova Scotia are of him today, we are going to be even more proud tonight.