Paul Martin

[The Economy, October 4th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important to deal with the basic premise of the hon. member's question.

If we take a look at what President Bush is talking about, the bulk of the money will go toward reconstruction in New York City and at the Pentagon, which is very important and which was a disaster from which we fortunately were spared.

If we look at the rest of the program, he is talking about accelerating his tax plan. We have already accelerated our tax plan and in our tax plan there is far greater stimulus than even that being promised by President Bush, or indeed the congress.

The third part of it is in fact what he will be doing for the unemployed Americans--

[The Economy, October 4th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I have said repeatedly that the government intends to present an economic update or a budget. The options are open.

I accept the reference to my colleague, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who will present his plan, as will the Minister of Justice, the Solicitor General of Canada, the Minister of Revenue, the Minister of Human Resources Development, and the whole government.

We have a comprehensive plan, and the member will see it. But he will have to listen and stop getting in a state.

[The Economy, October 4th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the member is referring to an error I made. The error was to reduce our national debt by $17 billion last year. The error was to reduce our national debt by $35 billion over four years.

That is the error we made. Because of that, we have $2.5 billion year after year to lower taxes and invest in the future of Canadians.

If these are errors, we will keep making them, because improving public finances will help Canada.

[The Economy, October 4th, 2001]

Absolutely! There is not one economist in Canada who accepts the Bloc Quebecois' forecasts.

Second, we are already far ahead of the Americans. Our employment insurance program is already in place and our plan to speed up the tax reduction process is already in effect.

Like the Bloc Quebecois, the Americans are playing catch up compared to what our government has already done.

[The Economy, October 4th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, first, the Bloc Quebecois' forecasts are wrong.

[The Economy, October 4th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Quebecois leader talks about the plan proposed by President Bush, a plan which is not yet in effect and which is being discussed by the United States Congress.

The hon. member must know that this plan deals primarily with rebuilding the Pentagon and the city of New York. Fortunately, we do not have that problem.

The hon. member also talked about speeding up the tax reduction program. We already did that. Finally, he referred to the program to help the unemployed, but the Minister of Human Resources Development—

[The Economy, October 3rd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the banks moved immediately on the reduction in interest rates. We have seen mortgage rates come down dramatically. What is very important is that we maintain the fiscal integrity of the country because that is what enables the Bank of Canada to bring interest rates down. It is what enables the banks to bring interest rates down.

We are in the middle of a global slowdown. It is very important that we protect Canadians through the downturn and that we be in a position to lead the recovery when it comes.

[The Economy, October 3rd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that jobs are the number one priority. That is why the first thing we did when we came to office was put in place a plan that would bring the unemployment rate down from 11.5% to where it is now.

The fact is that jobs continue to be the number one priority. That is why we proceeded to clean up the balance sheets, which is why we have enabled the Bank of Canada to bring down interest rates, which is why we have cut taxes, which is why we have invested in research and development, and which is why we will continue on that path.

[Employment Insurance, October 3rd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, as the hon. member is well aware, the surplus in the EI fund is being used for health, for infrastructure programs, and for job creation.

At the same time, he is equally well aware that the Minister of Human Resources Development has already announced substantial improvements to the EI program, precisely in order to help the workers of Canada.

[The Economy, October 3rd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is suggesting that we do what we have already done. We lowered taxes for small and medium size businesses. We helped them but, as I said, they are the first ones to tell us that they do not want us to go back to a deficit situation generated through spending.

We are taking action to avoid precisely what the hon. member is recommending, that is, to go back to a deficit situation. We will not do that.