Jim Flaherty

[Financial Institutions, April 16th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I am on the side, as our government is, of competition and choice in financial services in Canada. We have competition between the credit unions, for example, and the banks, and between the banks themselves.

When I spoke to the banks and said we have three specific challenges with respect to the rights of persons with disabilities, with respect to access for students on campuses, and with respect to seniors, at least three of them have reacted positively. These are steps in the right direction.

[Financial Institutions, April 16th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, when the member raised this question in the House some time ago now, I indicated that I would speak to the banks about it.

I am very pleased that having spoken with them and having met with them, at least three of the banks now have extended their services with respect to various issues that are quite important, including services for students on our campuses across Canada, both colleges and universities, and including seniors across Canada and persons with disabilities. These are important steps in the right direction by these banks.

[Ways and Means, March 28th, 2007]

moved that a ways and means motion to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled on March 19, 2007, be concurred in.

[Budget, March 28th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite rises in the House today and complains about fiscal imbalance not becoming fiscal balance. Mr. Speaker, do you know what she said just a few days ago? The member for Westmount—Ville-Marie said, “It's a budget that will make Quebec federalists happy”.

[Budget, March 28th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker--

[Ways and Means, March 27th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 83(1), I wish to table a notice of ways and means motion respecting an act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 19.

I ask that an order of the day be designated for consideration of the motion.

[The Budget, March 27th, 2007]

You're pretty selective when you read the budget aren't you? Maybe you don't even know about it.

[The Budget, March 27th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I see that the member opposite is still quite unhappy. I need to remind him about the working income tax benefit, WITB, that will benefit so many people in this country who want to move from welfare, from social assistance, to work.

What on earth does the member opposite have against that? What does he have against the plan for the severely disabled children in this country that they will have a savings plan?

He says he cares about people, but he is going to vote against those two measures and he is grumpy doing it.

[The Budget, March 27th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know why the member opposite is so grumpy.

This is good news. This is wonderful news for Canadian families with children under the age of 18 who have trouble paying their bills from time to time. It helps them with their children.

It is a tax credit that works out, and the member is right, to about $310 per child. That is enough to clothe a child for school in the fall. That is enough for a pair of skates--some skates, some not--and it is helpful to families all across this country.

So really, the member opposite should cheer up.

[Securities, March 27th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, in a time of open federalism when we work well with the other governments in Canada we can certainly share our efforts with respect to securities regulation. The proposal that is being discussed is indeed that. It is for a common securities regulator, not a provincial securities regulator and not a federal securities regulator, around which all governments would be represented.

The whole purpose is to serve the people of Canada, including seniors in Canada with respect to their retirement investments, to make sure we have good capital markets in this country that are fluid and that work well for all people in the country.