Paul Martin

[Terrorism, September 28th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the organizations have been already identified. They were identified in the annex to the letter that OSFI sent to the banks. The banks have issued a public statement saying they are co-operating and acting on the request. It has been taken care of.

[National Defence, September 28th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, let us understand what the member is saying. He is saying the synchrotron project in Saskatchewan is a handout. He is saying the money that is going to hospitals in his province for research and development is a handout. He is saying that the money going to fund researchers across the country, that brings people back to Canada to develop the new economy and to educate young Canadians is a handout.

That shows where the priorities of the hon. member and those of his party are. Let me say those are not the priorities of Canadians. Canadians want to build the country and the government will build it with them.

[National Defence, September 28th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, in regard to misplaced priorities, do I understand what the hon. member is saying? The Canadian Foundation for Innovation has funded the synchrotron project in Saskatchewan and is funding basic research right across the country, which is an essential element of the new economy and of any country's growth programs.

Is he saying that basic research and applied research in the country is a misplaced priority? It is wonderful to know now the real agenda of the party opposite.

[The Economy, September 28th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I again ask the hon. member, who has even refused to give an indication of what he thinks ought to be done, whether what he is saying is that we should abandon fiscal balance? Is he saying that we should give up on that, and is he recommending that we go back to a deficit situation? Is that what the Bloc Quebecois position is?

[The Economy, September 28th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member of the opposition knows very well that the surplus we have today is certainly decreasing because of the events of September 11 and those of the third and fourth quarter of this year.

I have a question for him. Is he recommending to us, or to Canadians, that we should spend ourselves back into a deficit situation?

[The Economy, September 28th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the hon. member in another intervention would explain to us how anybody could add up a set of numbers involving massive tax cuts, which the hon. member has suggested, massive spending, which they have been suggesting over the course of the last two weeks, and avoid a deficit.

Why does the hon. member not accept the fact that his party is now recommending huge deficits? They are the logical consequence of his party's policy unless that party cannot count, which is more than likely the case.

[The Economy, September 28th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the hon. member that the government will maintain fiscal responsibility. I have said that from the beginning and the government has demonstrated that by its record.

I can also assure the hon. member that the spending the government engages in will be designed to increase the growth and productivity and the quality of life of Canadians.

[The Economy, September 28th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, if the Government of Quebec wants to boost confidence, I would suggest that it stop talking about a recession.

[The Economy, September 28th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that the confidence of consumers is paramount, and this confidence is tied directly to the fiscal integrity of their country.

The fact that the country has put its fiscal house in order, that it has eliminated the deficit, and wishes to maintain that position, the fact that the government is showing fundamental discipline, as other governments are doing, is crucial to consumer confidence.

[The Economy, September 28th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I regret but I must correct the hon. member. The 50 basis point reduction in the Bank of Canada rate occurred last week, that is after the September 11 events.

At the same time, the measures that were put in place continue to work. The tax cuts continue to provide in excess of $17 billion to the Canadian economy, and the infrastructure program remains in effect.

In fact, we would really appreciate it if the Province of Quebec were to co-operate with the Minister of National Revenue and with the President of the Treasury Board to truly speed up the whole process.