Paul Martin

[British Columbia Economy, March 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that the government is concerned, as are Canadians, about the state of the British Columbia economy.

That is why we reduced employment insurance premiums from $2.90 to $2.70 to help employment. We forgave employment insurance premiums for young Canadians between the ages of 18 and 24. We brought interest rates down. They are now at lower rates than they have been decades. We balanced the books and gave Canadians confidence in the future.

That is what British Columbians require. It is confidence in the future and they are getting it as a result of the actions of this government.

[Liberal Convention, March 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, again because this convention represented a broad centre of the country and not the extremes, what happened was, yes, there was support for tax reductions and, as the Prime Minister said, they will come.

However, there was also support, as we have just seen, for health care, for resolving the problems of children in poverty and for dealing with the fundamental social fabric of this country. This is all because British Columbians, like the rest of Canadians, have a broad view and understanding of the needs of this country, unlike the narrow extreme views expressed by the member opposite.

[Liberal Convention, March 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, it is very clear the degree to which the Liberal Party convention is representative of Canadians from coast to coast to coast given the fact that it has dominated the debate. I am glad the debate on the Liberal convention has been able to bring some life to the shadows and the darkness that exists on the opposition benches.

I would simply point out that there were over 300 delegates from British Columbia.

[The Budget, March 18th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, there is $7 billion worth of tax relief in this budget over the next three years. Let us be very clear about one thing. This government has made it evident right from the beginning that the days of overspending are over. This means tight controls, total openness and total transparency. That is the course we are on and that is the course we will stay on.

[The Budget, March 18th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, if there has ever been any indication of the Reform Party philosophy, stop the world I want to get off, let us understand that the world evolves, things change and governments must adapt. What we are dealing with here is a Reform Party that is so rooted in the 16th century that it fails to understand what the modern economy is all about and that modern accounting principles ought to follow modern governance.

[The Budget, March 18th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, is the hon. member saying that a $2.5 billion scholarships program for 100,000 students at $3,000 a year is not going to Canadians? Is the hon. member saying that giving money to students to go into their pockets to pay off their debts is not giving money to Canadians? Is the hon. member saying that investing in education for the future of this country is not giving money to Canadians? That demonstrates what the Reform Party thinks of this country of Canadians.

[The Budget, March 18th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, we have made it very clear that we intend to follow the practice in the private sector which is far more open and far more transparent. That is what we have done.

I would simply point out to the hon. member that we have done this on the advice of the deputy comptroller general who is a senior member of the accounting profession, a partner at Deloitte & Touche on secondment to the government. We have followed his advice and his advice is right.

[Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, March 17th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, we certainly share the view as do the provinces, that confidence in the board is paramount. That is why we have set in place a process whereby the provinces and the federal government will put together a list of nominees from which the directors will be chosen.

I can assure the hon. member that each and every one of those nominees will be a person of the highest character, integrity and competence.

[Pensions, March 17th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the other day when the hon. member asked his first question as finance critic I forgot to congratulate him. I would like to congratulate him now on his appointment and on his question.

The reason we are not prepared to move at the present time is that given the high level of Canadian borrowings we think there is reason to hold back on that decision. On the other hand, we are very open and it is one we will continue to monitor.

[Seniors Benefit, March 17th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I am having a little trouble with the definition of a tax gouge. We eliminated for all Canadians earning $50,000 or less the 3% surtax imposed by the Conservative government. We reduced EI premiums from $3.07 imposed by the Conservative government to $2.70.

The fact is that we have reduced the taxes the Tories increased. Under those circumstances perhaps the definition of gouge is a little different for the Tory Party than it is in the Oxford English dictionary.