Paul Martin

[Social Policies, October 28th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the figures on the widening gap between the rich and the poor are obviously a concern in every industrial country.

Canada suffered a very deep and profound recession in the period 1989 to 1992 which certainly traumatized a series of Canadian families. That is what we are in the process of seeing. That is why when this government took office not only did it proceed to eliminate the deficit but it brought in the national child tax benefit and put another $1.8 billion into it.

That is why we put a series of measures into helping mothers go back to school. That is why we put in a series of measures helping the working poor. It is why we dealt with education. It is in fact—

[Harmonization Of The Goods And Services Tax, October 28th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, in circumstances such as those described, the government provides compensation when there has been a loss. In Quebec's case, there was no loss. We compensated the provinces that suffered losses, but if there was no loss, there was no compensation.

[Social Programs, October 27th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, a look at the last budget reveals that the government doubled funding for medical research and development, financed the medical transition fund and spent, over five years, in excess of $7 billion on transfer payments to the provinces, most of which were for health.

[Taxation, October 27th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, in the last budget the government provided $7 billion worth of tax relief to Canadians who are in exactly that situation.

At the same time 400,000 Canadians have been taken off the tax rolls. That is precisely what this government has done to help the gentleman in question.

[Taxation, October 27th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I suggest the hon. member might want to look at the new child tax benefit which is directed at exactly that.

In the last budget the government put in an additional $750 million to bring it to over $1.7 billion, precisely to deal with that kind of situation.

[Employment Insurance, October 27th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, at a time when the climate outside our borders was benign, when Japan was not in a depression, when Russia's government was operating, the Reform Party recommended that the government use the EI fund to reduce the deficit.

Now outside our borders the situation is certainly stormy and the government must protect itself and the Canadian people. By what twisted logic does the Reform Party decide all of a sudden that we should abandon that cushion? The issue is what torturous minds develop economic policy for the Reform Party.

[Employment Insurance, October 27th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, it is the government's position that contributions to the government, whether they come from EI contributions from employers or employees or whether they are taxpayer dollars, they come from the taxpayers of this country and they must be administered with great prudence. That is what we are in the process of doing.

We do not regard taxpayer dollars as simply found money. That may well be the difference. That is why we provide good administration.

[Employment Insurance, October 27th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, let us understand that in 1995 the Reform Party was not recommending that any of the EI surplus be applied to reductions. Reformers were saying that all of the EI surplus must go against the deficit. We did not follow their advice. We reduced premiums in 1995. We reduced them in 1996. We reduced them in 1997. That is what we have done.

[Employment Insurance, October 27th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, let me read from the 1995 Reform Party taxpayers budget: The Reform Party recommends the establishment of a permanent reserve fund for UI. Funds from this reserve would be applied against the deficit. That is the Reform Party's policy.

[Federal Spending Power, October 26th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, when they go from door to door, the Liberal candidates will be able to say that, between 1993 and 1998, the federal government transferred to Quebec only $2.1 billion in tax points, increased equalization payments by $1 billion, gave out $200 million in tax benefits for children and provided nearly $650 million for the infrastructure program.