Paul Martin

[The Budget, June 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, let me simply quote from the departmental official who confirmed what I said in the House yesterday, that it was not only for a speech. It was for the entire communications strategy.

In fact, and I now quote, it was for all of the other informational material about the budget. It is true that there was advertising about the budget. That advertising was generally very well received by all people in the country, unlike the advertising for the Parti Quebecois which was condemned by the agencies that watch that kind of advertising.

[Monetary Union, June 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, Mr. McCallum said exactly the opposite of what the member just claimed.

Second, the United States has made it very clear that it would never consider monetary union or a common currency. It would only consider the use of the U.S. dollar, which would be a very expensive proposition for the monetary policy of any other country wishing to use it.

[Taxation, June 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the question posed by the member for Sarnia—Lambton is a classic example of how he and all other members on this side of the House have consistently sought to further the interests and the needs of small and medium size business in the country.

I am very grateful to the member as indeed I am very grateful to the members of the industry committee who have deliberated long and hard on the particular measure. They have recommended that this tax measure be extended for small and medium size business until October 31 of this year.

I am delighted to announce today that the government accepts that recommendation.

[The Budget, June 1st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, that is a little like the pot calling the kettle black.

Let me simply say that it was not for speech writing. Certainly it was part of the reason, but in addition there was an entire communications plan, an entire strategic plan laid out.

As well, in the busiest four months before the budget there was the whole question of setting up the website. We were one of the one of the hottest websites in North America following the budget. I would recommend to all members after the next budget that they look at our website. It is really worth while.

[Finance, May 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, given the hon. member's great experience in this area, he is fully aware that transparency in financial statements by governments and indeed by private sector corporations is essential if we are going to have a sound international system.

As a result of this, consistent accounting standards have to be consistently applied. Therefore we certainly support the role of the public accounts committee in this area and certainly support the efforts of the hon. member in this area.

I am delighted to see that the International Accounting Standards Committee is going to report on this very soon, but this is something in which Canada will certainly take a lead.

[Tainted Blood, May 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, no. The member should read the report. The report mentions all the activities of the CDC, including Connaught, which was a subsidiary, but a subsidiary with its own board of directors.

It should also be mentioned that the CDC mainly focussed on mining, chemicals, and the provision of services to companies. The involvement of Life Sciences, Connaught's parent company, was truly minimal in the overall picture. In fact, CDC did not own 100% of its assets.

[Tainted Blood, May 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I stand fully by the position I have stated this week and last week in the House.

[Tainted Blood, May 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, there is no embarrassment.

The ethics counsellor has already looked at this matter after the NDP asked a question about a week ago. I myself have spoken to him and indicated my great interest in having him look at the situation.

[The Economy, May 28th, 1999]

No, no. Today's statistics in terms of today's numbers are very different. As an example, consider individual income. Personal disposable income growth strengthened to 3.5% from only 1.1% in the first quarter.

The fact is there was a decline in the early part of the nineties when the Tories, the Reform Party's friends, were in power. However, in the last year and a half it has stabilized. Personal incomes are now up. The personal disposable income left in people's pockets is now up. The fact is that we have turned it around.

[The Economy, May 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I am certainly glad the hon. member said a pinch of snuff after what we have heard this week.

Unfortunately the member is quoting from outdated statistics, those that began during the period of recession in the nineties—