House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 58% of the vote.
The Economy November 25th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, that will be on Thursday at four o'clock of course.
In October 2007 when we brought forward in the fall economic statement dramatic reductions in business taxes, small, medium and big businesses, a further reduction in the GST of a full percentage point and advanced personal income tax deductions, the Bloc Québécois voted against all of those measures in this place.
The Economy November 25th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, it is plain that no one in the world predicted the kind of economic downturn and the severity and depth of the economic downturn that we have experienced in the last 12 weeks.
I thank the member opposite and his party for at least putting forth some constructive suggestions. I had the opportunity to discuss them today with the Bloc representative. This is important in terms of all members of the House, I hope, putting forward constructive suggestions on stimulating the Canadian economy in an unprecedented time.
The Economy November 25th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, there the member for Kings—Hants goes again, talking down the Canadian economy.
In the OECD report today, what did it say about the future of Canada? It said that Canada would be the country leading the recovery with the strongest growth among G7 countries in 2010.
Why did the member for Kings—Hants not point that out, so Canadians could have confidence and faith in their economy, instead of talking it down?
About travel expenses, I am sure he read about that as he flew business class back to his riding last Friday.
The Economy November 25th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, there are certain actions that will be announced on Thursday. I am sure the member for Kings—Hants will be here, listening eagerly when we get to that time of the day on Thursday.
Let us remember what has happened before in 2006-07: personal income tax reductions, business tax reductions and a reduction in the GST by two full percentage points. That is an economic stimulus for our country of almost 2% next year, which is more than anyone else in the G7. Those are all measures that the opposition voted against.
The Economy November 25th, 2008
The member opposite, Mr. Speaker, talks about deficits and technical recessions. He ought to take the advice of the expert on deficits in his own caucus, the member for Toronto Centre, who said, “if we have a deficit now, at the federal level, is that going to be the personal fault of the Prime Minister? I don't think so, and I don't think that is a reasonable or an intelligent position to take”.
The Economy November 25th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member opposite knows or should know, if he has been paying attention the last 12 weeks or so, we have gone through a period of protracted economic slowdown. This is a global slowdown. It is a serious economic slowdown for the world.
Canada is not an island, but, fortunately, we are well prepared because we took actions from 2006-07, reducing taxes and spending on infrastructure being increased, all of which was voted against by the Leader of the Opposition and those Liberals on the other side.
The Economy November 25th, 2008
We will do what is necessary, Mr. Speaker, to protect Canadian families, individuals and businesses so they have the necessary credit available to them, so they can invest and re-invest and so we can protect the safety and security of Canadian families. We will not artificially engineer a surplus for the next fiscal year. I will have more to say about that on Thursday at 4 p.m.
Equalization November 20th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, when I met with my provincial and territorial colleagues some weeks ago, we provided them with the equalization numbers for next year, including, regrettably, the province of Ontario. We made it clear that equalization itself, leaving aside other aspects of transfers to the provinces, would not grow faster than the rate of growth in the economy, that is nominal GDP. The ministers, while not welcoming that, understood that in a time of a financial crisis we cannot have a program like equalization growing on average at about 15% per annum.
Securities Industry November 20th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, while Canada's financial system is the soundest in the world, the credit crisis, the financial crisis, certainly since last year has demonstrated one glaring deficiency in our system of regulation in Canada, and that is the absence of a national securities regulator.
This is not an academic subject. This matters to seniors, to people with investments, mutual funds, to families, to Canadians from coast to coast to coast. Therefore, we are going to move forward toward a common national securities regulator for Canada with willing partners in the provinces and willing participants.
Finance November 20th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, of course the goal is to have increasing economic growth in Canada. I say to the member opposite, this is a serious situation. It is a serious situation in Canada, as well. If any members in the House have any constructive suggestions of ways in which the economy could be stimulated in addition to the tax reductions that we have already made, then I welcome them. Quite frankly, I think that is what Canadians expect of us when we come back after an election in a time of serious economic slowdown.