House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 48% of the vote.
Taxation December 3rd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the OECD report is a very good report. It supports the general thrust and direction the federal government has taken since we have assumed office.
I simply remind the hon. member that EI premium rates are today the lowest they have been in the last nine years. The OECD also supports a Canada pension plan that is available to all Canadians.
Taxation December 2nd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the results are there: 1.3 million since we took office; over 300,000 jobs created this year alone; and 57,000 created last month.
That is not where the difference lies. The difference lies in the forces of extremism. The Reform does not believe in the positive role of government and we do.
Taxation December 2nd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, again we are dealing with the real agenda of the Reform Party.
Yes, unfortunately, because of the inattention of previous governments, the Canada pension plan premiums, on agreement with the provinces, are going up. But that is not where the difference lies. The difference is that the Reform Party does not believe in the Canada pension plan. It does not believe in sharing the risk. It does not believe that Canadians of all generations and of all income levels are entitled to a decent retirement. We beg to differ.
Employment Insurance December 2nd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I think we should be very clear. This is not about EI premiums, nor in fact is it about income taxes. It is about the Reform Party's agenda to gut the health care system, to cut the transfers to the provinces, to make sure that aboriginal Canadians do not have decent health care and do not have decent education. The Reform Party talks about the working poor. When we brought in the child tax benefit to help the working poor, the Reform Party opposed it with its narrow fiscal agenda.
Employment Insurance December 2nd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member owes it to her party to at least cite the actuary correctly. The actuary quoted a range and the other side of the range was $2.50.
The Prime Minister has just said that the actuary makes a recommendation to the commission. The commission has representatives from the employer side and the employee side. That commission made a recommendation to the government which the government has accepted.
Division No. 294 December 1st, 1998
moved that the bill, as amended, be concurred in.
Taxation December 1st, 1998
Mr. Speaker, in the last budget we brought in over $7 billion in tax relief over three years. Today my colleague, the Minister of Human Resources Development, decreased employment insurance premiums by 15 cents, which represents well over a billion dollars.
Every single year that we have been in office employment insurance premiums have come down. There are two things to count on: employment insurance premiums coming down; and their popularity going down.
Taxation December 1st, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows that the numbers he is referring to vary from quarter to quarter. In fact, they vary from month to month. What does not vary are the longer term trends.
I simply announce that real personable disposable income in Canada increased substantially in 1997, rising over 8% from 1996.
Taxation December 1st, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I have a heart. Reform is the party without heart. The fact is—
Employment Insurance December 1st, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to confirm the announcement that was made this morning by my colleague, the Minister of Human Resources Development, that following the recommendation of the Employment Insurance Commission the government will be reducing the employment insurance premiums by 15 cents to $2.55.