House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 48% of the vote.
Gasoline Taxes April 25th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, if we look at the taxes on gasoline they are substantially higher at the provincial level than they are at the federal level. That is why the federal government made the offer to all provinces that if they wanted to act in concert on this matter we would be prepared to do so.
The fact is a number of the provinces pointed out, including the province of Ontario, that any reduction in tax would be simply lost in volatility at the pump, and they were not prepared to proceed.
Gasoline Taxes April 25th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member surely knows, this is an issue that was raised vigorously here and that was examined by several of our members, including the hon. member for Pickering—Ajax—Uxbridge.
We did the necessary review. We talked to small retailers and companies. They told us that if we went ahead with that measure, it would really create an administrative nightmare for them and that it would be better to leave things as they are.
As I told the hon. members from our party, we continue to look at the situation.
The Economy April 25th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, given the positions that have been taken by the NDP and given those criteria and the elements one requires to have monetary sovereignty, it is a little hard to understand her question.
The fact is that elimination of deficits and the pay down of debt are part of that. The NDP has opposed that. Reduction of taxes is a part of that. The NDP has opposed that. In fact in all areas where the government has sought to invest to support the new economy, research and development and regional development, all areas which would build the new economy, the NDP has consistently taken a position of voting against the government.
The fact is that her positions taken in parliament—
The Economy April 25th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the leader of the NDP has somewhat misread the article.
The document by the Toronto Dominion Bank said that dollarization would not be the appropriate policy at this time. It then went on to say “However, it might be at some future time”.
If what the hon. member wants is a categorical refusal to go the dollarization route, if what the hon. member is looking for is a reaffirmation of this government's intention to maintain monetary sovereignty, I am delighted to say that is exactly this government's policy.
The Economy April 25th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I just want to understand this legislated debt paydown. Is that the legislated debt paydown that the then Alberta treasurer, now Leader of the Opposition, brought in when he was the treasurer of Alberta and then had to amend six months later when he could not hit the target? Is that what he is talking about?
The Economy April 25th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I have made it very clear that the signals are mixed. In fact we are monitoring the situation very closely.
I just think that it is really incumbent upon the hon. member as well to be balanced and not to be fear mongering. He talks about retail sales. He is wrong. Retail sales were up 1% above the fourth quarter of the year 2000. His facts are wrong.
As far as the payment of debt, the Alliance Party recommended that we pay down debt by an average of $6 billion a year. The fact is that we have paid down debt by $7 billion on average over the last four years, $1 billion more than it ever thought it could do.
The Economy April 25th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, at the meeting of the finance ministers of the western hemisphere, two weeks prior to the Quebec summit, we did discuss this. The vast majority of the finance ministers said that it was a remarkable turnaround the Canadian economy had seen with the elimination of the deficit, the largest paydown of debt in Canadian history and the largest reduction of taxes in Canadian history.
In fact, most of the finance ministers would have agreed with the conference board today which said that the first quarter of 2001 was one of those rare moments in history when a huge dose of fiscal stimulus was actually occurring at exactly the time that it was needed.
The Economy April 25th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member perhaps ought to go back to his numbers. Real disposable income in Canada is up. In fact real disposable income per family is now at a record level in Canada.
The hon. member talks about interest rates. Interest rates are now down substantially. In fact, as a result of the interest rate reductions now, a typical family with a mortgage has $750 more in their pocket now than they would have had three to four months ago.
Despite the fact that there is global volatility, problems in Japan and in the United States, if we take a look at the Canadian economy, while signals are mixed, we—
The Economy April 25th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, first, let me simply say to the Leader of the Opposition that he should not be a bit surprised by the great support that the government has for his position and his remaining in that position.
In terms of who is minding the store, when the store was being minded by somebody else here in the House, yesterday the Prime Minister gave the following quote, which answers the hon. member's question. This is a quote from the IMF. It says “The strong policy framework in place has positioned the real and financial economy to cope with any new major economic shock”. Then, the IMF goes on to say “The Canadian authorities are to be highly commended by their policy accomplishments”.
Firefighters April 24th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I have met and look forward after question period to again meeting with firefighters.
I would also like to inform the hon. member that the possibility does already exist. I am quite prepared, in letters to various pension funds and otherwise, to make it very clear that the right they are seeking exists already.