House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 56% of the vote.
The Budget March 29th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, talk about a pot calling a kettle black.
Only a Conservative could criticize a plan to delay corporate tax cuts until they are affordable while at the same time slamming small business with job-killing EI premium hikes.
Under the minister's own plan, a small business with 10 workers will pay $9,000 more for the privilege of keeping its employees.
Will the minister finally admit that his job-killing payroll tax hike will kill 200,000 Canadian jobs?
The Budget March 29th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, last week, the government told us that we would be debating the budget bill today, but that is not the case. The government seems to be struggling to keep up with the minister's latest comments about the GST.
How many more flip-flops does the Minister of Finance intend to spring on taxpayers and capital markets?
Pensions March 24th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, those provinces wanted to act months ago and the Prime Minister who wanted to privatize the Canada pension plan is hardly one to act at all.
I imagine that the Prime Minister still thinks that the Canada pension plan should be privatized instead of strengthened.
Given the Prime Minister's Reform ideology, how can we believe that he wants to improve the Canada pension plan?
Taxation March 22nd, 2010
Mr. Speaker, in the minister's own words, employment insurance premiums are “one of those job-killing taxes”. Yet the Conservatives are raising this job-killing tax to the tune of $1,200 for a two-earner family, not to mention new Conservative taxes on travel, research, savings and even toupees.
Why is he putting new Conservative taxes on everything that moves and why does he not tell Canadians the truth about these Conservative tax hikes?
Taxation March 22nd, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are raising so many different taxes that they cannot even remember which ones will be raised.
I would like to remind them that they created a new tax on income trusts and that they are raising the income taxes of our brightest post-doctoral researchers, along with employment insurance premiums and taxes on airline tickets.
Which of these tax increases is the Prime Minister's favourite?
Petitions March 18th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the third petition is from approximately 150 people who petition the Government of Canada to support a universal declaration on animal welfare.
Petitions March 18th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is signed by approximately 400 individuals who wish to create effective laws regarding corporate social responsibility, particularly in the area of mining. They ask that we consent to the expeditious passage of Bill C-300.
Petitions March 18th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, I would like to present three petitions on behalf of constituents.
First, approximately 200 residents are concerned that Canada Post has deleted Unionville from the postal code reference library. They want the necessary steps to be taken to recognize the existence of Unionville by restoring its name to the postal code reference library.
Employment Insurance March 17th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, we all know that this so-called arm's-length organization is totally under the control of the Prime Minister. If those taxes go up, it is under his orders.
This tax hike will cost a two-earner family $1,200 and will cost 200,000 jobs in this fragile economy. If there is one person from whom Canadians deserve the unvarnished truth, that person must surely be the Prime Minister.
I ask him the very simple question: Will he simply admit what is evident to all in this House, that he is raising the payroll taxes of Canadians?
Employment Insurance March 17th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, so I take it that the Prime Minister will indeed comply with the will of the House and save $20 million. I hope that is true.
I now have a question for the Prime Minister, from one economist to another.
As an economist, he surely knows that employment insurance premiums are a tax. As Prime Minister, he surely knows that his government will increase this tax four years in a row. Is it not obvious that he is increasing taxes for Canadians?