House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 48% of the vote.
Taxation October 21st, 1997
Mr. Speaker, what will happen to Alice when her old age pension is cut by the Reform Party? What will happen to Alice if she lives in Manitoba or Saskatchewan and those provinces that have to cut essential services because they have cut equalization. What is going to happen to Alice when she cannot get into a hospital because of a further $3.5 million cut by the Reform Party?
The real issue is, why is Reform trying to pass a tax cut for the rich off on gutting the social programs for the poor?
Taxation October 21st, 1997
Mr. Speaker, it is going to take more than a week's break before the hon. member can come up with a decent line.
Let us take a look. The Reform Party's position is that they will not cut taxes until the deficit is eliminated. The deficit has not been eliminated. We have already begun to reduce taxes, $2 billion over three years.
The issue is, why have we begun to cut taxes? The Reform Party refuses to do it until the deficit is eliminated. Who is addicted to taxes? It is the Reform Party.
Taxation October 21st, 1997
Mr. Speaker, the leader of the Reform Party talks about misrepresentation.
In fresh start he said he would cut the CHST by $3.5 billion. Fresh start is their program. In their second taxpayers' budget, they said they would cut equalization by $3 billion. In their first taxpayers' budget, they said they would cut old age pensions by $3 billion. There is only one level of misrepresentation and it is the Reform Party that refused to tell the truth about what it really stands for.
Taxation October 21st, 1997
Mr. Speaker, if I was implying to lay awake at night, I would be worrying about the fact that the Reform Party will take $3.5 billion out of health care. I would be lying awake at night worrying about the Reform Party which has cut $3 billion out of old age pensions. If I was going to lie awake at night, I would be worried about the Reform Party that is going to gut equalization in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Fortunately, I sleep well because they will never take power.
Taxation October 21st, 1997
As to the answer when, Mr. Speaker, we did it in the last budget. As to the amount, we did it by $2 billion over three years. And as for whom, we did it for the physically disabled, we did it for students and we did it for poor families with children.
The Economy October 20th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, may I simply point out to the hon. member that as a result of the federal government's actions, interest rates are down by over $2 billion in which the province of Manitoba would share.
May I also point out that Manitoba is sharing not only in the original but in the extension of the infrastructure program. May I also point out that the Foundation for Innovation will give the great universities in Manitoba a chance to get more money for research and development. May I point out that the Minister of Health has a series of announcements of money going directly into Manitoba to help health care.
Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, we need more time for these answers.
The Economy October 20th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question.
As has been outlined by the prime minister, we will balance the books by no later than next year. I think Canadians can take enormous satisfaction in the fact that in the first five months of this year we actually have paid down $11 billion worth of marketable debt. I also think that Canadians take great satisfaction by the fact that the net worth of households is rising, that consumer sales are up, that more and more Canadians—
The Deficit October 20th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, the leader of the NDP ought to look at the facts. There are over one million more Canadians at work today than there were when we took office.
She talked about interest rates. Interest rates are down five percentage points for the first time in 20 years. Our interest rates are lower than those in the United States. Not only are our short term rates lower, but for the first time since our longer term bonds came out, our 30 year rate is lower than in the United States, our 10 year rate is lower than in the United States.
The NDP ought to get better researchers.
The Deficit October 20th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, the researcher who conducted the study says it is because of economic growth and lower interest rates.
All economists agree that we would not have had these lower interest rates and this economic growth had the government not acted quickly in 1995 and 1996. We did so, and the results are there.
Education October 20th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, once again, the hon. member ought to listen to the provincial ministers of education. It is the provinces that have asked us to sit down with them to help students finance their loans. We are in the process of doing so, in partnership with the provinces, including Quebec.