House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 58% of the vote.
Taxation February 5th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, no decision has been taken with respect to issues, including income splitting and other important tax policy issues, that are being reviewed in preparation for the budget.
I am pleased that we have proceeded with pension splitting, which is a very important step forward. It has been demanded for a long time in Canada. It is excellent for pensioners and seniors.
My friend from Halton will have to await the budget with respect to other tax items.
Sales Tax Amendments Act, 2006 January 30th, 2007
You don't want to. You already lost that once.
Income Trusts January 29th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, to answer the second part of the question first, of course I will meet with the person mentioned by the member after question period. I am happy to do that.
The decision with respect to income trusts, I note, was the subject of a ways and means motion in this place, which, as I recall, the member for Halton supported.
Financial Institutions January 29th, 2007
Quite Frankly, Mr. Speaker, it is not the role of the government to just simply legislate a ban on ATM fees.
I appreciate the question was asked in the House some time ago. The hon. member wrote me about this. I received the letter January 26, which is three days ago, or Friday.
However, we try to act quickly. I will get right on it again and get back to the member as soon as I can.
Financial Institutions January 29th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, this is an issue which the member raised previously in the House. At that time, I said that I would raise the issue with the banks, which I did. I look forward to further response from them.
The government does not regulate the day-to-day transactions of financial institutions with respect to fees and services, but we do believe in competition and choice for consumers. I would be pleased to report to the House and to the member further on the subject.
Trade December 13th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, we know there was a wish list and there were several sets of books, three at least from the previous government. One other thing we know for sure is that $40 million of taxpayers' money from hard-working Canadians is gone.
Persons with Disabilities December 13th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, what we need to know is where the Liberals locked up the money. In what brown bag did they lock up the money? Is it in the hands of their bookie, Alfonso Gagliano? We do not know where they locked up the money. Which set of books were they using, the first set, the second set or the third set?
We would rather actually do something for people with disabilities and we will.
Persons with Disabilities December 13th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, I commend to the member opposite the report that was filed yesterday by the Minister of Finance's committee on disabilities. For the first time in the history of the country, we now have a potential initiative that will help parents with children with severe disabilities to save for their future, something the member's government could have done over the course of 13 years, which we have now done in the course of 10 months.
Government Programs December 13th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, not only do we have a policy, we have a plan called “Advantage Canada”. Not only do we have a plan called “Advantage Canada” that will try to address the lack of productivity growth in the last 10 years when the party opposite was the government, but our plan has the endorsement of the International Monetary Fund.
In the report issued today by the International Monetary Fund, it praises Canada's new government for its commitment to allocating unplanned surpluses to lower the debt, to increase productivity in Canada and to lower taxes.
Government Policies December 13th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite is correct that we are spending on our priorities and not on a wish list that the Liberals published just before the last election, the third wish list that they published in 2005.
There were three sets of books in 2005 from the last government. We only have one set of books.
And yes, we are spending on our own priorities. To check on their books and what happened to the $40 million, I guess we will have to call their bookie.