Leon Benoit

[Economic Statement, November 2nd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the tax man cometh.

Yes, that is still true, but the good news is that he will not get nearly as much this year as he would have two years ago under the Liberal government.

The tax relief people felt when they filled out their 2006 returns was noticed and appreciated, but the tax refund that my constituents will get for the 2007 tax year will be a pleasant change indeed.

In fact, this Conservative government will leave $190 billion in the pockets of hard-working Canadians over the next five years.

What was the Liberal response? The Conservative government reduced the GST from 7% to 5% and the Liberals promised to reverse that reduction should they get into government again.

That is right. They want to increase taxes. Why?

Because they consider taxes to be like Maxwell House coffee: it is good to the very last drop.

[Points of Order, November 2nd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. During members' statements earlier today, there was a clock malfunction, I understand, at the Speaker's chair. We have discussed this. I would like to present my member's statement now, as it was interrupted earlier.

[Economic Statement, November 2nd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the tax man cometh.

Yes, that is still true, but the good news is that he will not get nearly as much as he did when we had a Liberal government across the floor.

The tax relief people felt when they filled out their 2006 tax forms was noticed and appreciated, but the tax refund my constituents will get when they fill out their 2007 tax forms will be a pleasant change indeed.

In fact, the Conservative government will leave $190 billion in the pockets of hard-working Canadians over the next five years.

What was the Liberal response? The Conservative--

[Business of Supply, October 25th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the minister in his very informative presentation talked a lot and focused on the importance of post-secondary education and that is important.

We see as well that often jobs change, the needs of workers change, and particularly older workers who lose their jobs late in their career. I wonder if the minister has done anything to help those older workers and in particular to help them get back into the workplace or stay in the workplace.

[Business of Supply, October 25th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I have listened today as people have expressed different opinions on the issues and I have sat here listening and thinking this is a different opinion, that I do not agree with it, but that is fine.

However, this member has the nerve to stand here today and say he did not vote to support income splitting on pensions because of the tax on income trusts, and yet he voted for the Conservative government's income trust motion. He said this on his web page. He says on his own web page: “My vote will acknowledge that wholesale corporate conversions to trusts are unhealthy”.

That is what he said on his own web page, exactly the opposite to what he is saying right now. He went on to say: “Reforming the trust business and stemming the tide of conversions is necessary for the long term health of the economy”.

That is what he said then. Today he says something entirely different. This member has no credibility whatsoever. I have listened to others and accept different opinions, but this member has no credibility. He says one thing one day, another thing entirely the second day.

[Petitions, June 20th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to present a petition on behalf of constituents from the county of Two Hills, the town of Two Hills, Willingdon, Myrnam and Derwent. The petitioners call upon the government to expedite the immigration process for all qualified physicians seeking to practice in rural Canada.

[Interparliamentary Delegations, June 20th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I have three reports to table today.

First, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the delegation of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association respecting its participation in the annual session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly held in Quebec City, Canada, November 13-17, 2006.

The second is respecting its participation in the parliamentary Transatlantic forum of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly held in Fort McNair, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. on December 11 and 12, 2006.

The third is regarding the participation in the joint meeting of the defence and security, economics and security and the political committees held in Brussels, Belgium, February 18-20, 2007 and the annual economics and security committee consultation with the OECD of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly held in Paris, France on February 21 and 22, 2007.

[Petitions, June 19th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, it is my honour, on behalf of Dylan Cole McGillis, an unsuspecting victim of an unprovoked, violent and fatal attack, and on behalf of thousands of other Canadian citizens who were victims of violent crimes, to present this petition.

The petitioners request that the House of Commons introduce legislation whereby violent young offenders would be subject to mandatory minimum sentences regardless of age. A part of this, of course, we have done and more will be done.

This petition has about 20,000 signatures and more are being collected. Many of these signatures are from the constituency of Battlefords—Lloydminster and many others from Vegreville—Wainwright. Anyone who would like to add their names to this petition can do so online at www.dylanmcgillis.ca.

[Petitions, May 30th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, in the second petition the petitioners point to the case of Shane Rolston who was murdered. They call upon the Government of Canada to put in place legislation which more adequately deals with crimes such as this and that the sentence match the crime committed, regardless of age, class or race.

I am pleased to present this petition, again with hundreds of signatures, on behalf of the people of my constituency and area.

[Petitions, May 30th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present today.

The first petition is on behalf of the people of Two Hills and area, with hundreds of signatures, asking for the assistance of their MP and the neighbouring MP to get doctors through the immigration system. The petitioners ask for the system to be improved to help foreign doctors come into rural areas.

The signatures on this petition were collected before certain changes were made which have dealt with a large part of the problem.