House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 48% of the vote.
Taxation December 9th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member opposite would spend a little less time with his speech writer and little more time looking at the substance of his question what he would see is that over the course of the last number of weeks Reform has called for $9 billion in tax cuts, $9 billion in debt retirement and $7 billion in EI reform, for a total of $25 billion.
I would tell the Reform that $25 billion would put this country back into a double digit deficit.
Child Poverty December 8th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that we must improve the plight of the poorest families. This is why, last year, we took steps to exempt 400,000 Canadians from having to pay taxes.
This is why we have earmarked $1.8 billion for the national child benefit. This is why we increased by $45 million the deduction for child care. This is why the Minister of Human Resources Development and the government invested millions and millions of dollars to help the middle class and the poor in our country.
Canada Pension Plan December 8th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the real question is what would happen to those thousands and thousands of pensioners who would have to suffer the $3.5 billion cut in old age pensions that the Reform Party has put forth as part of its program. What would happen to those hundreds of thousands of Canadians if they did not have a Canada pension plan available to them and were forced to rely on themselves, those who are unable to save for their old age retirement?
What would happen to those Canadians who are entitled to believe that if they work hard all their lives they are entitled to a decent retirement? Those are the people we are speaking for.
Canada Pension Plan December 8th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member better get a new writer. The basic issue is the future of the Canada pension plan. The Reform Party does not believe in the Canada pension plan. The Liberal party does believe in the Canada pension plan.
More important, Canadians overwhelmingly believe in the Canada pension plan. They want it preserved. They want it there for themselves, for their children, for the generations to come, and it will be there because this government will make sure it is there.
The Economy December 8th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the only thing the Tories had bigger was the deficit.
If we compare the country today to what it was like in 1993 when we took office, one only had to be minister of finance for three weeks to have that first meeting down at the IMF. We had a country that had not lived up to one decent projection in eight years. We had a country whose currency was under attack. We had a country where interest rates were climbing.
Today we have the strongest balance sheet—
The Economy December 8th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, in 1993 the unemployment rate in the country was 11.5%. Today it is 8%. In 1993 there were 1.5 million fewer Canadians employed. In 1993 our productivity rate was below that of the United States. Today it is above that of the United States. In 1993 our interest rates were 350 basis points above those of the United States. Today our long term rate is the lowest rate—
Taxation December 7th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I have already answered that question, as did the industry minister this morning. He was talking about higher productivity and lower taxes.
Let us look a the results of that. Last month job gains came in eight of the ten provinces. This is the fifth straight month that the unemployment rate has gone down. The unemployment rate in Canada is now at its lowest level since 1990.
Taxation December 7th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I really want to congratulate my colleague, the Minister of Industry, and all my colleagues.
Perhaps the hon. member missed the announcement last Friday. Four hundred and twenty-five thousand new jobs were created this year alone. Last month the private sector, in the context of a climate established by this government, created 103,000 new jobs, 75,000 of which were permanent. The vast majority went to young Canadians.
Prebudget Consultations December 7th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, if we look at the transfers made to the provinces by the Canadian government, we notice, for example, an increase in equalization payments. The last budget included a $7 billion increase in transfers, over a three year period.
It also included programs designed to improve access to knowledge, including the millennium scholarship fund and the $3,000 paid to single parents. However, if we look at all the areas in which the federal government invested to help Canadians secure a better future, we can see that, in each case, the Bloc Quebecois opposed the government's initiatives.
Prebudget Consultations December 7th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, first I want to congratulate the members of the Standing Committee on Finance, both opposition members and, most definitely, government members, for a very good report.
The emphasis put on productivity and the need to increase the wealth of all Canadians, including the poor and the middle class, resulted in a very good report. I intend to give it very serious consideration.