James Moore

[Aboriginal Affairs, April 18th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I agree with the sentiment of the need for justice and peace, and I think what all Canadians are looking for is action.

Our government has indeed taken action. The minister has spoken to that, as has the Prime Minister, and not only has our government taken action on the file of missing and murdered aboriginal women, which is an issue that touched my home province of British Columbia very deeply and indeed the entire country, but this House took action last night in extending equal rights to aboriginal women on matrimonial property rights as well.

Our government is proud of our track record of standing up and defending the interests of all Canadians, of all aboriginal Canadians and, indeed, aboriginal women, to ensure not only that they have protection but that they have equal rights in Canada.

[Aboriginal Affairs, April 18th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, this is a very serious issue, and we take our obligation to protect the interests of all Canadians very seriously.

That is why our government, the Prime Minister and the minister himself are doing everything they can to stand up for the rights of all women across Canada and protect them from these types of attacks.

An investigation has already been launched in British Columbia. We are putting in place the investments, policies and approaches necessary to ensure the safety of all Canadians and the aboriginal women affected by these tragedies.

[Foreign Affairs, April 17th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, today we do remember the life of Margaret Thatcher, who rose from humble beginnings as a grocer's daughter to become the first female prime minister of Great Britain.

Margaret Thatcher was a true leader who had a strong vision for her country and was proud of her values and her principles. During her three terms as prime minister, Margaret Thatcher was a true champion of freedom and liberty and of fighting Communism around the world. She inspired millions around the world to the cause of freedom.

On behalf of the Prime Minister, I join all Canadians in saluting the life and legacy of Lady Thatcher.

[Taxation, April 17th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, since our government was elected in 2006, it has reduced Canadians' taxes by more than $200 billion. We have even reduced the GST from 7% to 5%.

Houses cost less, cars cost less, books cost less, family items cost less and everything that Canadians need costs less.

That is what the Conservative government has accomplished.

[Taxation, April 17th, 2013]

Maybe he is in over his head, Mr. Speaker.

On these two questions, they actually work in concert. It is pretty clear in this year's budget that we are the party of low taxes. The Liberal Party is the party of high taxes. When it comes to employment, it is this government that believes in standing up for creating Canadian jobs for Canadians. It is a pretty simple principle.

Again, the question is to the leader of the Liberal Party. If there is sincerity behind his question on creating jobs for Canadians, why is he writing letters to bring in Chinese workers in the food industry in Montreal rather than helping us create jobs for Canadians in Montreal?

[Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, April 17th, 2013]

Indeed, Mr. Speaker, we believe in respecting Canada's history. That is why we are creating the Canadian museum of history, which I hope the Liberal Party will support. Of course, we do believe in the central principles of the charter, not least of which is section 15, the equality clause of the charter that says that all Canadians should be treated equally.

The question again to the leader of the Liberal Party is why he will not defend his constituents in creating jobs for his constituents instead of writing letters to bring in Chinese workers for businesses in his riding.

[Health, April 17th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, on the subject of credibility, which was raised by the NDP, my point is this: The new leader of the Liberal Party criticized yesterday the temporary foreign worker program, but I have a letter here from the new leader of the Liberal Party asking us to rush new temporary foreign workers from China to work in restaurants in his riding.

[Health, April 17th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, we will continue with our record funding just as I described, but when it comes to the “do as I say and not as I do” position of the NDP, it is not just the NDP that is guilty of this, it is also the Liberal Party. The NDP criticizes the temporary foreign worker program. The Liberals had a motion before Parliament yesterday condemning the temporary foreign worker program.

I have a letter here from the—

[Health, April 17th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, that is a truly ridiculous attack. In fact, our government, again in budget 2013, is increasing funding for health care. At a 6% escalator, we have been increasing health care funding in every single year we have been in government, and we are increasing funding every year going forward, through until 2016. In fact, the federal government's rate of increase in health care spending is larger than that of any province in the country, including the NDP provincial governments. We take no lessons from the NDP on defending the principles of Canada's health care system.

[Employment, April 17th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, quite the opposite is true. We are creating jobs for Canadians. That is why we are investing more money than ever before in infrastructure. We are making the biggest investment in infrastructure that this country has ever seen.

Again, on this question of temporary foreign workers, the leader of the NDP criticizes the temporary foreign worker program, while his members of Parliament ask the government to bring in more temporary foreign workers for businesses in their ridings.

Would the leader of the NDP, for once, make it clear what his position is? He says he is against the program, but his members of Parliament are begging for the program to be expanded. Will you please stop the hypocrisy and--