It is very clear that the CHST and equalization go hand in hand.
When the two are examined together, over a five-year period, Canada will be paying out $19 billion to the provinces and Quebec will receive—
House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 48% of the vote.
Transfer Payments February 18th, 1999
It is very clear that the CHST and equalization go hand in hand.
When the two are examined together, over a five-year period, Canada will be paying out $19 billion to the provinces and Quebec will receive—
Transfer Payments February 18th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, the difference between today and 1995 is that transfers were being cut then.
Today, they have been increased and the provinces knew very well that as soon as money was back in the system, there would be a return to the per capita basis.
The Budget February 18th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, I will answer the question very quickly.
Our tax package will eliminate bracket creep for all taxpayers for the next three years. We will protect the Canada pension plan. I have answered the questions.
Now let the Reform Party answer its questions. Where will it get the $7 billion to $16 billion worth of cuts that it would take out of Canadian social programs? Answer the questions. I answered its questions.
The Budget February 18th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Reform Party attempted to demonstrate an interest in health care and failed to do so. Today it raises the tax issue as if people do not remember what it has said in the past.
The Reform Party has called for some $7 billion to $16 billion worth of cuts in order to pay for its tax package. It is very clear that the bulk of that would come out of health care.
Will the Reform Party stand up here today and tell us where it will cut and what it feels the effect of that would be on the health care system in this country?
The Budget February 17th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, I am delighted at the end of question period to explain to the hon. member what in fact happened in the budget.
I will tell him: $16.5 billion in tax reduction over a three year period, $11.5 billion going back into the health care system, and $1.4 billion going into health research and other kinds of research.
Essentially what the government did was to invest in productivity, was to invest in the health care of Canadians and was to reduce their taxes. I thank the member for the question.
The Budget February 17th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, the vast majority of the tax reductions in terms of the business community will be enjoyed by the small business community.
At the same time, $50 million has gone in to the federal bank for the purpose of supporting small businesses exporting in the high technology areas. A great deal of the support for research and development is for start-ups which are essentially small businesses.
When we look at the fact that we have eliminated employment insurance premiums for a vast segment of the younger population, when we look at—
The Budget February 17th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, what the government did along with the provinces, despite all the objections of the Reform Party, was to save the Canada pension plan.
In addition, what we brought in in the budget was not only no tax hikes but $16.5 billion worth of tax reductions over the course of the next three years. These are tax reductions which are primarily directed at the middle class, basically the spine of small business in this country.
We are very proud of this budget. We are very proud of the tax reductions it has in it.
The Budget February 17th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, the surplus is looking better because many more Canadians now have jobs. It is looking better because the economy has improved and things are going much better. I am very happy with things the way they are.
The Budget February 17th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, the only way we could be fair is if we did not hear the questions.
As I understand it, the deindexation was introduced as an anti-deficit matter. The deficit at that time was $24 billion. After they introduced it, it went to $42 billion. God knows if they had introduced others what would happen.
The Budget February 17th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, bracket creep arises out of the lack of indexation, which arises out of measures introduced by the Tory government some time ago.
One of the things I would like to point out to the hon. member is that as a result of the reductions in taxes in yesterday's budget in fact bracket creep will be more than covered for all Canadians for the next three years.