Mr. Speaker, I can assure the member that the Government of Canada will act in the public interest, and in the case of a bank concentrated in Quebec, in the interests of the Canadians and Quebecers who have a stake in it.
House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 48% of the vote.
Banking System May 16th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, I can assure the member that the Government of Canada will act in the public interest, and in the case of a bank concentrated in Quebec, in the interests of the Canadians and Quebecers who have a stake in it.
Banking System May 16th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, the member must know that the legislation has not yet been introduced. I assure him that all banks will be treated equally.
That having been said, the government intends to give the smaller banks, some of which are concentrated in Quebec, a bit more flexibility.
Transfer Payments May 5th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, it is the hon. member who is not making any sense. Again, the transfer of tax points by the Canadian government was at the request of the provinces.
Mr. Miller, who was Ontario's treasurer, asked that the full transfer be in the form of tax points, because he was well aware that these points would increase in value much more than cash transfers.
We went 50-50, because we wanted to accommodate the provinces. But we were well aware that it also takes money to maintain the Canadian government's position and we will continue to maintain that position.
Transfer Payments May 5th, 2000
Moreover, we invested money in research and development, in transition funds and in the whole information sector. We are in the process of achieving—
Transfer Payments May 5th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member must know that in each of the last four budgets we have increased transfers to the provinces.
In last year's budget, we increased those payments by $11.5 billion, over a four year period. This year, we increased them again. The increase for the past two years is over 25%.
Taxation May 3rd, 2000
Mr. Speaker, I will tell the party opposite the formula. Follow the federal government and introduce indexation of the tax system. Follow the federal government and reduce taxes for middle and low income Canadians. Follow the federal government and eliminate the deficit.
Do not follow the Reform Party. Do not introduce a flat tax. If they cannot convince Mike Harris, who in heaven's name will they convince that it makes any sense?
Health May 3rd, 2000
Mr. Speaker, in each of the last four budgets the federal government has increased transfers to the provinces.
Last year the largest single expenditure of the government in its history was for health care. We have increased transfers for health care by over 25% in the last two years.
The bulk of the increase in funding provided by the Ontario government for health care came from the federal government.
The Economy May 2nd, 2000
Mr. Speaker, what I said in Newfoundland is something that I have said on many occasions. In terms of Newfoundland and in terms of Atlantic Canada it is very clear that the development of a modern economy requires a leg up.
The government is prepared to stand behind Atlantic Canada because we recognize that the depth of entrepreneurship, the educational institutions and the basic research that is there all can combine to give Atlantic Canada a very strong economy, and we will make sure that it happens.
Finance May 2nd, 2000
Mr. Speaker, the member's question is very pertinent because it reflects on the legitimate concerns that many NGOs have about the process of globalization.
The response is really twofold, one at the national level. Over the course of the last four years I have, on a regular basis, met with the pertinent NGOs. In fact, just before we went to the meeting in Washington, the Minister for International Cooperation and myself met with them again.
At the national level, the president of the World Bank has told me that in the course of the last couple of months he has met with over 60 NGOs. The World Bank has in fact gone on line in order to conduct a dialogue with these NGOs. The question in fact is very pertinent.
Taxation May 1st, 2000
Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member wants to see losers all he has to do is look in the mirror. He looks a little fried.
The member only has to look at the government's industrial policy in terms of our support for research and development, our support for education and our support for the Canadians who will build the economy of the future. If the hon. member would look at our infrastructure program, which will be signed by the President of the Treasury Board with the provinces and municipalities across this country, he would see that the government is laying the climate and creating the basic structure that will give us the best economy we have ever seen.