House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 58% of the vote.
Canada Pension Plan October 29th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, again, I thank the NDP member opposite for the idea she has put forward. A number of ideas are being put forward by the provinces, the territories and the federal government.
We did our comprehensive package earlier this week on pension reform, but there is more to be done. That is why we have the intensive research being done. This is a complex issue.
I thank the member for her thoughts. I wish the Liberal Party had even one thought on this subject.
Canada Pension Plan October 29th, 2009
We have been doing just that, Mr. Speaker. We have been working with the provinces and territories since last December on the pension issues.
I thank the member opposite, her party and the finance critic for the NDP who said, “We're all agreed that on pensions we're on the right track and we're getting an important report in December”. That is true. We are getting an important report, in co-operation with the provinces and the territories, unlike the Liberal opposition, which has the position that it actually does not have a policy on pension reform, according to the member for Markham—Unionville.
Equalization October 29th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question.
As usual, equalization payments for 2010-11 will be determined in December using the formula provided for in the legislation. The total equalization payments should increase in 2010-11.
POINTS OF ORDER October 28th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I will be happy to check with CBC, our national broadcaster. I am sure that they have the recording of the member opposite saying the words, “Liberals don't actually have a policy on pension reform”.
Pensions October 28th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, it is very difficult for the members opposite in the Liberal Party to understand because clearly the member opposite has not read the comprehensive reforms that we announced yesterday.
For example, the tax provisions announced yesterday apply to all pension plans in Canada. It is an important change of the pension plans for which unions and others asked. It allows greater buildup of surplus in pension plans in difficult times. There is also a workout scheme for pensions in more difficult times, as we did with Air Canada this year.
If members opposite want to contribute to this important debate, I wish they would at least read the reforms.
Pensions October 28th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, as I have said, we take the issue very seriously, as do most Canadians, unlike the Liberal Party that admits it has absolutely no policy at all on pension reform.
How could the Liberal Party have any policy? All those members did was to have one day of meetings here in Ottawa the other day: no policy, no plans, no consideration, no caring for the pensioners of Canada.
Pensions October 28th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, at least the NDP has some policies and has some ideas on pensions. As the critic, the member for Outremont, said yesterday, “We're all agreed that on pensions we're on the right track and we're getting an important report in December”.
If that member wants to talk about not caring and feeble, then let us talk about the position of the Liberal Party of Canada and what its finance critic said two days ago about that party. He said, “The Liberals don't actually have a policy on pension reform”.
Pensions October 28th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, our government has been working hard on this serious and complex issue, beginning many months ago. We announced some solvency regulations earlier in the year to help with pension plans in some difficulty then, then long-term, broad consultations across the country, led by my parliamentary secretary, and then the development of the comprehensive reforms that were announced yesterday.
However, that is not all. We are working with the provinces. We have a research group in place. That will report shortly. Then we will work with the provinces and the territories in Whitehorse in December on even more reform to protect Canadians.
Pensions October 26th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, it is very clear that pensioners are serious and are seriously concerned. It is the Liberal Party of Canada that is not seriously concerned about the issue.
The Liberals bring it up now toward the end of the year. We have been working on this for more than a year. Not only have we been working on it, we have been listening to Canadians led ably by the parliamentary secretary. We have brought forward solvency regulations.
I can tell the member opposite, we would have had pension plan failures this year had we not moved earlier in the year to do the solvency changes. I welcome the member to catch up with what is going on in pension research in Canada. There is much to learn.
Pensions October 26th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, that is the point, precisely.
This is a very serious issue for seniors and pensioners in Canada. We had to deal with this as a government with respect to the Air Canada issue earlier this year and also with some other situations.
We do not deal with it in a one day meeting. We do not treat it lightly. We do not treat it frivolously. It is too important for Canadians and that is why we will study the issues hard this year, led by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance.