House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 58% of the vote.
Ways and Means November 21st, 2006
moved that a ways and means motion to introduce an Act to amend the Income Tax Act, including amendments in relation to foreign investment entities and non-resident trusts, and to provide for the bijural expression of the provisions of that Act, be concurred in.
(Motion agreed to)
Taxation November 21st, 2006
Mr. Speaker, I assure all members that the fall fiscal update is not a mini-budget. It is an update of the fiscal situation of the Government of Canada. At the same time, an economic plan will be released that will provide some direction about matters of principle and what we intend to do in terms of taxation.
As the member opposite knows, on October 31, for the first time in Canadian history, income splitting of pensions was announced, effective January 1, 2007, which will make a great difference to pensioners of all ages in Canada.
Income Trusts November 21st, 2006
Mr. Speaker, what happened this year and what we saw was a rapid acceleration of the quantity of conversions to income trusts. We also saw an acceleration of the quality of income trusts; that is more and more active Canadian corporations, including the two largest corporations in the telecommunications field, decided to go in that direction. This was a major change in Canada this year.
Pensions November 9th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite knows, the rules have been set out with respect to income splitting for pensioners and the rules will apply to everyone as they were set out when we announced it on October 31. With respect to extending beyond that, as I have indicated previously to the hon. member, that is something that we can review among many other taxation issues going forward.
Income Trusts November 9th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite expresses concern about the little people, the small people, in Canada. It is in the interest of individual taxpayers and their families and it is in the interest of tax fairness that corporations, especially large corporations, in Canada pay their fair share of taxes. That was endangered by the growth of income trusts.
Federal-Provincial Relations November 9th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, no province is doing better than the province of Ontario. There is an agreement of not just five years, which the Liberal government entered into, but a full year more, six years, with $6.9 billion from the federal government to the Government of Ontario.
This is a great agreement for the province of Ontario.
Federal-Provincial Relations November 9th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, as I explained to the member opposite at the committee, there are aspects of the agreement that are solely expenses that are going to be paid to the revenues that are going to be paid to the province of Ontario. For example, there are $300 million for infrastructure that only the province of Ontario will receive as a result of the Canada-Ontario agreement.
Government Appointments November 8th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, at first the member opposite suggested that it is not an appropriate appointment. He now suggests that I do not agree with the individual and therefore, the person ought not be appointed. It is still a free country.
We have intellectual activity in this country, thank goodness. We have eminent intellectuals in economics, like Dr. Crowley, who are prepared to express their views on various issues. Most important, Dr. Crowley is now prepared to take time from his life to dedicate to public issues in the Government of Canada and we thank him for his service.
Government Appointments November 8th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, the appointment of the Clifford Clark Visiting Economist at the Department of Finance is made by the deputy minister of finance and not by the minister.
Dr. Crowley is an eminent Canadian. He is a Canadian public intellectual. He has experience across this country in working with various governments, including the governments of Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Alberta. He is extremely well educated.
Income Trusts November 8th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, this is a very confused opposition. It bungled this issue last year. It voted last night against helping out pensioners regarding income splitting in Canada and now it seems to be in favour of foreigners paying only a 15% withholding tax while Canadians bear the brunt of the Canadian tax burden.
That is the position it is taking, probably on the guidance I suppose of someone who spent a lot of time in foreign places paying foreign taxes, and that would be the member for Etobicoke—Lakeshore.