House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 48% of the vote.
Taxation February 13th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I suggest to the hon. member that he might want to take a look at the Alberta budget and what the Alberta government is doing. It is putting more money into health care. It is putting more money into education. It is putting more money into the priorities of Albertans.
It would appear that the whole country supports health care, the whole country supports education, and the only Canadians who do not are the members of the Reform Party.
Taxation February 13th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, there is no money in my pockets. The statistics to which the hon. member is referring obviously deal with the trend that began in the middle 1980s and was exacerbated substantially in the recession of 1989 to 1992. I am quite confident that as we look ahead we will see Canadians paying less in taxes. They will be paying more for things they choose for themselves. I am about to be cut off but I would like to go on.
Ice Storm February 12th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the member's question is a very important one. I am pleased to inform the House that I have spoken directly to the Canadian Bankers' Association and the Insurance Bureau of Canada.
I asked both to be flexible and compassionate in this exceptional and disastrous situation. Both indicated that was their intention.
All those with problems in this regard I would ask to contact us or their members of Parliament, because we wanat to monitor this situation.
The Economy February 12th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, let us be very clear. Since we have taken office we have said that the payoff for deficit cleanup, for cleaning up the balance sheet and for the tremendous effort of Canadians, will in fact be lower taxes. It will in fact be greater security for our social programs. We will continue on that vein.
The one thing I would say within that context is that it makes very little sense to me, given the importance of the public service and the tremendous dedication, that the Leader of the Opposition should attempt to downgrade their efforts for the country.
The Economy February 11th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, when we took office the deficit was $42 billion. The surplus the hon. member is referring to is due to the efforts of Canadians. He then goes on to ask whose money it is. Yes, it is the taxpayers'.
I will tell him something else. Our social programs that his party wants to gut, health care, education and old age pension, also belong to Canadians and we will protect them for Canadians.
The Economy February 11th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, it is hard to understand how the Leader of the Opposition could refer to somebody trying to hide a surplus when what he is doing is quoting from a Department of Finance document, the source of his numbers.
I am delighted to confirm to the Leader of the Opposition that the numbers he is quoting out of our document are correct.
The Economy February 11th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, at budget time I will be delighted to report on the state of the government's accounts.
The
Fiscal Monitor
to which the hon. member refers shows a strengthening in the Canadian financial balance sheet. This is certainly due to the efforts of Canadians and I must say to the efforts of my colleagues in government.
Research And Development February 10th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, when the government took office there was no doubt that this country's financial back was against the wall. A number of very important decisions had to be taken, none of which we wanted to do, thanks in fact to the terrible mess that we inherited.
The fact is since then we have created the Canada Foundation for Innovation and have put some $800 million into it.
We are very cognizant. The Minister of Health has been very articulate on the importance of medical research and we will continue to support it.
Labour Sponsored Investment Funds February 10th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, first of all I would like to thank the member for giving me notice of this question.
As the hon. member knows, the tax credits for LSVCCs were originally brought in by the federal government and the provincial governments in order to make sure that these funds had the initial impetus to get going. Since then they have raised large sums of money and by and large have been successful. It was deemed at that point by the provincial finance ministers and federal finance minister that the generosity of the credit should be cut back.
We are in the process of monitoring the situation.
The Economy February 10th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the Canadian government certainly intends over the course of this mandate to reward Canadians for the tremendous sacrifices they have undergone as this country has come back from what was the deficit despair.
I should like to say to the hon. member and to all members of this House who have been quite patient in asking questions on the forthcoming budget that we will answer those questions on Tuesday, February 24 at 4.30 p.m.
I am pleased to announce that I will be tabling the budget on Tuesday, February 24, at 4.30 p.m.