House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 45% of the vote.
Potash Industry November 1st, 2010
Let me just say this, Mr. Speaker. We certainly value the advice of the Premier of Saskatchewan. The government is committed to doing what is best for Canada. The government is committed to doing what is best for the Canadian economy.
Saskatchewan is very fortunate to have 13 strong members of Parliament on the government side of this House. They have delivered for the people of Saskatchewan like no team has, and they will continue to do so.
Fisheries and Oceans October 29th, 2010
Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I am tabling, in both official languages, the interim report of the commission of inquiry into the decline of the sockeye salmon in the Fraser River, entitled, “Fraser River Sockeye Salmon: Past Declines. Future Sustainability?”.
Infrastructure October 29th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, the Prime Minister has a very important responsibility to communicate with Canadians, to get off Parliament Hill and to travel the country and do a lot of listening.
Those Canadian voices that were heard led to Canada's economic action plan, a plan that has been incredibly successful in helping create some 400,000 net new jobs.
We are constantly reviewing the demands across the country. We will certainly respond in short order.
Public Works and Government Services October 29th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General regularly reviews the books of the Government of Canada. She has an important responsibility to do just that. We have confidence that she has and will continue to carry out her responsibilities in an appropriate fashion.
Public Works and Government Services October 29th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, this government has had a very productive relationship with the public service. Our public service does an outstanding job for Canadians. That was best seen with the release of the Auditor General's report, in which she talked about the great work done at Infrastructure Canada and in other departments on the delivery of Canada's economic action plan.
Harmonized Sales Tax October 29th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, it was this government that took responsibility for cutting taxes. Just five short years ago, we brought forward a plan to cut taxes, the centrepiece of which was a cut in the GST.
These tax-cutting measures have led average Canadian families to have more than $3,000 more in their pockets. That may not be a lot of money for members of the NDP, but for Canadian families that is an important part of the family budget that is there to conserve their families.
Every time we wanted to cut taxes, the member for Burnaby stood and voted no. He wanted to keep that $3,000 in the government's coffers and not in the hands of B.C. families.
Harmonized Sales Tax October 29th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the seat in question has only been empty for three or four days. In fact, the government is not legally able to call a byelection at this time.
Harmonized Sales Tax October 29th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, I respect greatly my colleague from Nanaimo—Cowichan but to hear the NDP decry taxes is just a little too rich.
It was this government, as our first order of priority, that brought in a budget that cut the GST from 7% to 6% and then to 5%, and the NDP said no. It wanted to keep the GST high. Shame on that party.
National Defence October 29th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear. The Prime Minister and the government have an important responsibility to communicate with Canadians. The Prime Minister takes that responsibility incredibly seriously and obviously there are fair and reasonable costs associated with that.
The Prime Minister also has an important responsibility to get off Parliament Hill and travel the country and listen to Canadians from coast to coast to coast. That is something he does and it is something that is tremendously important. He does a lot of listening and he is able to communicate the important projects contained in the economic action plan. That is good news for Canada.
Office of the Prime Minister October 29th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister and our entire government believe we have an important responsibility to communicate with Canadians. This requires some fair and reasonable resources, and that is one of the reasons we have seen an increase in spending in this regard.
Also, last year was an extraordinary year for Canada. The Prime Minister made visits to Afghanistan to support our troops and made important trade visits to China and India to create jobs for Canadians right here in Canada.