House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 43% of the vote.
Canada-U.S. Relations February 18th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, we want to ensure that trade and travel between our two countries is made easier, not more difficult. This kind of a tax would have harmful and negative long-lasting effects on trade that is vital to the economies on both sides of the border. It is one of the reasons why our government has been clear that we will not raise taxes in the upcoming federal budget, unlike the hon. member opposite.
Canada-U.S. Relations February 18th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, first let me be very clear that this is a proposed bill and is not law and it is a very bad idea, just like the passenger inspection fee proposed in the draft 2012 budget.
We want to ensure that trade and travel between our countries is easier, not more difficult. We will do everything we can as a government to make sure that happens.
Taxation February 18th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, our Conservative government is standing up for taxpayers at home and on the international stage. Last year, we successfully fought a global banking tax that would have hit millions of Canadians in their pocketbook. While others were forced to bail out their banks with taxpayer money, our banks survived without a dime of taxpayer money to bail them out.
Indeed, the World Economic Forum has ranked Canada's banks the soundest in the world for three straight years. However, the coalition does not agree. It wants higher taxes. The NDP has a bill to tax Canadian banking transactions, punishing hard-working Canadians' wallets directly and indirectly. We are stunned the NDP and its coalition partners yet again want to raise taxes on Canadians.
Rest assured, our Conservative government is committed to lower taxes. We have cut taxes for the average Canadian by $3,000 and will fight any new coalition tax hike.
Canada-Panama Free Trade Act February 7th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her support of the Canada-Panama free trade agreement and the side agreements that go with it.
In listening to the criticism coming from members of the NDP Party, I am a bit perplexed. They have never supported a free trade agreement in any way, shape, or form. I do not know what they do support in the House because they seem to be against everything they talk about.
What are the advantages to the hon. member's home province of Newfoundland and Labrador in having more extensive trading relationships within the Americas?
Canada-Panama Free Trade Act February 7th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, I listened attentively to the speech of the hon. member for Halifax West. I appreciate his support for Panama. I cannot say that I agree with everything he said in his speech, but it is nice to see the Liberals on board with our free trade agenda, especially in the Americas and on Panama.
Will we continue to see the Liberal Party support free trade agreements which are good for Canadian business and opportunities for Canadian workers, rather than as we saw in the 1993 election when the hon. member ran on a ballot against free trade?
The Economy February 4th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, today Statistics Canada announced that Canada's economy created more than 70,000 net new jobs last month. Our government's main priority is the economy and helping create more jobs for Canadians. The creation of these jobs again shows that our economic action plan and our low tax agenda are getting positive results for Canadian families.
According to Statistics Canada estimates, Canada has now created over 460,000 jobs since July 2009, and more than a million jobs since 2006. These are positive signs, but too many Canadians are still looking for work and the global economic recovery remains fragile. We need to continue with our low tax plan to protect and create jobs, not the Liberal leader's high tax agenda that would stall our recovery, kill jobs and set back hard-working families.
Canada-Panama Free Trade Act February 3rd, 2011
Madam Speaker, I appreciate my hon. colleague's input at the Standing Committee on International Trade. I disagree with his position on Panama, but I have a question on which we may be in agreement.
The issue is fairly simple. Canada and Panama are already trading substantially, hundreds of thousands of dollars, millions of dollars' worth of trade. How could it hurt to put clear rules around the trade that already exists and reduce tariffs and barriers for Canadian businesses? How could that hurt Canadians?
Canada-Panama Free Trade Act February 3rd, 2011
Madam Speaker, what this bill should be called is “Opportunity”. There is opportunity here for Canadian businesses. There is opportunity for Canadian services. There is opportunity for the non-agricultural sector. There is opportunity for the agricultural sector.
I would ask one more time for the NDP to withdraw its position, to back up and actually support this piece of legislation.
Canada-Panama Free Trade Act February 3rd, 2011
Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question. It is a reasonable and responsible question.
The issue here is quite simple. We are actually dealing with a trade agreement. We are not dealing with an agreement that is specifically on labour or on the environment; we are dealing with an agreement on trade. The trade agreement has an appendix with an agreement on labour and an agreement on the environment along with it, because of the importance we place upon proper labour laws, rules and regulations and proper environmental laws, rules and regulations. Therefore, we penned an appendix to the trade agreement.
However, it is a trade agreement. It is not a separate agreement on labour or a separate agreement on the environment. We appreciate the importance of both issues and have included them within the bill.
Canada-Panama Free Trade Act February 3rd, 2011
Madam Speaker, it is an important question. It is also one that certainly merits some discussion.
I appreciate the hon. member's comments that we do not expect that everyone doing business with Panama is looking to launder money. That is something that we need to address. Certainly, by far, 99.99% of all Canadian businesses doing business in Panama are there for legitimate and correct reasons.
On the issue of co-operation with the finance department and Panama, our Minister of International Trade has been in contact with his appropriate counterparts in Panama. We expect Panama to live up to all of its obligations under the OECD.