Paul Martin

[Taxation, March 8th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, what I do recognize is that we have a progressive tax system and, as well, we tax on an individual basis.

The government also recognizes that it has, in each of its budgets, the responsibility for government to partner with parents in the raising of their children, and we intend to do that.

That is why we brought in caregiver credits. That is why we brought in the child tax credits. That is why we brought in the prenatal nutrition program. That is why this matter is being referred to the House of Commons finance committee.

[Child Tax Benefit, March 8th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the member's figures are questionable.

In the past two years, we have added over $2.1 billion. That compensates more than amply for inflation.

[Child Tax Benefit, March 8th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, in the past two years, we have increased the benefit by $1.8 billion. This year, we have added another $300 million.

That certainly compensates for inflation, and much more.

[Taxation, March 8th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the child tax credit in fact does go to families, whether or not both parents are working in the home, or whether or not parents are working outside of the home. The basic point that is raised by the hon. member, which is the responsibility of government to work in partnership in terms of the raising of children and recognizing that burden and that responsibility, is a point which is well taken.

[Taxation, March 8th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows that whether it be the care giver credit, the child tax credit, the national child tax benefit, we have worked on this problem consistently budget after budget. As the minister said, this is not something we all of a sudden discovered, as has the Reform Party.

I do not want to prejudge what the House of Commons finance committee is going to do, but I certainly am going to say that I am sure that the hon. member, unlike perhaps the Reform Party, will work constructively with the House of Commons finance committee to see if we can come up with what is the proper answer.

[Taxation, March 8th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, we have a progressive tax system and we tax on the basis of individual income. If the hon. member is against that, then she should stand in the House and say that people who earn $25,000 a year should pay more in income tax than those who earn $50,000. If that is not her position, then she will go to the House of Commons finance committee and she will work constructively with members of the government who want to make sure that families who are raising children have a partner in the Canadian government.

[Taxation, March 8th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, it makes no sense to pit families where parents work either in the home or work out of the home against each other.

What is important is that the government recognizes the tremendous burden and responsibility that parents have raising children. It recognized its responsibility to work with them, which is why we referred the matter to the House of Commons finance committee.

I would ask the hon. member to work constructively with the finance committee to that end.

[Taxation, March 5th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I repeat that what the government would like to do is to have the whole question of how the state can help families raise children and what our responsibilities are looked at by the House of Commons finance committee. I would ask the Reform Party to join in a constructive effort to take a look at this.

This is one of the great benefits of having balanced the books. Now that we have balanced the books, the Government of Canada is in even a greater position.

I would remind the hon. member that in this year's budget, $300 million more went into the child tax benefit. I would ask him to look at what the government did regarding prenatal nutrition, what we did in a whole series of measures over a whole series of budgets.

The question is, why does the Reform Party vote against those things that help children?

[Family Trusts, March 5th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the member is well aware that this matter is before the courts and that I am not in a position to comment.

[Health Care, March 5th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is a little out of date. The fact is that the Government of Newfoundland and the federal government are speaking with one voice. That one voice says that in fact there is very large scale funding going from the federal government to the province of Newfoundland in both the CHST and equalization, money which I know full well the Government of Newfoundland will put into the health care system because its interests are ours, and that is to have the best health care system right across the country.