House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 58% of the vote.
Government Programs May 7th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, in budget 2007, at long last, the government introduced the working income tax benefit for Canadians. This is a great step forward to help make things more equal for Canadians, to help Canadians get over the welfare wall and to join in the gainful employment that is available in Canada today in our strong economy.
I cannot, for the life of me, understand why the Liberals opposite plan to vote against the workers income tax benefit.
Taxation May 7th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite is suggesting that Canadian companies can only compete if they can deduct interest twice, if they can double-dip. I respectfully disagree with the member opposite. I dare say that taxpayers in Mississauga South, whom he represents, who get T4 slips every year and who pay their full share of taxes, would disagree with the member opposite saying that certain groups, certain corporations should be treated preferentially.
We are against tax havens. We are against tax loopholes. We are against preferential treatment.
Taxation May 7th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, I will tell the member opposite how Canadians want to compete. They want to compete fairly and on a level playing field. They do not need preferential tax treatment. All Canadians ask is that they be treated fairly and that the hard-working people in Canada who get T4 slips this time of the year and pay their taxes get treated fairly, not preferentially, which the Liberals want to do through tax loopholes.
Taxation May 7th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite promotes tax havens. What the member opposite says is that he wants to treat certain corporations more favourably and to prefer certain taxpayers in Canada over others. Tax loopholes and tax avoidance is what they believe in on the other side of the House.
On the other hand, we recognize that hard-working Canadians should be treated fairly and in that way we can reduce taxes for all Canadians, not just for his friends.
Taxation May 7th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, that is one of the most breathtakingly uninformed questions that has been heard in the House in a long time.
If the member were to read the background, which I am sure he has not, he would see that negotiations have been going on between Alcoa and Alcan for two years.
Equalization May 3rd, 2007
As usual, Mr. Speaker, the Liberal member opposite has his numbers wrong. There is $95 million more for the province of Nova Scotia this year than it would have had under the old agreement. There is $59 million more next year for the province of Nova Scotia than it would have had under the old agreement.
Let me say something else to the hon. member. Yesterday's discussions with the acting minister of finance for the province of Nova Scotia were very constructive, very helpful, just the opposite of what we hear from the Liberal members from Nova Scotia here.
Equalization May 3rd, 2007
First, Mr. Speaker, I can tell the House I had very constructive discussions yesterday with the acting minister of finance in Nova Scotia. He offered the view to the media there that budget 2007 was an extremely positive document from an infrastructure perspective for the province of Nova Scotia, as indeed it is.
We are honouring the accord. The option is there for the government of the province of Nova Scotia to either choose the accord or choose the new O'Brien formula. It also has the choice this year, which it has chosen to exercise, to get an additional $95 million for the province of Nova Scotia.
Taxation April 30th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, I am sure the member opposite does not understand that sometimes one has to act in the best long term interests of the country.
I know that the member for Markham—Unionville is not in favour of tax havens or he would get up and say he is in favour of tax havens. Tax havens are something Liberal members know a lot about. They are very familiar with tax havens.
Even the Toronto Star, an organ with which the member is familiar, says “it makes no sense to allow companies to claim tax breaks against income on which they pay no tax”. It says that the Liberal leader is “turning his back on sound tax policy”.
Financial Institutions April 23rd, 2007
Mr. Speaker, I do not share with the hon. member the view that the Government of Canada should be dictating day to day policies to the banks, the credit unions and the trust companies in Canada. They should be free to compete and create their own choices. In fact, we see that working in Canada. We see the credit unions, for example, in their association, having different policies with respect to ATM charges. This is good. Competition and choice are good for the Canadian economy.
Financial Institutions April 23rd, 2007
Mr. Speaker, the issue of ATM fees of the banks was raised in this place some months ago. As a result of that, I approached the banks about it. I asked them to take into consideration that choice for consumers was very important and that some consumers in Canada had less choice because they were older, or they were seniors, or they suffered from disabilities or they were students on campuses that had limited availability of ATM machines.
I am pleased to report to the House that at least five of the banks have responded positively on those issues.