Paul Martin

[Canada Pension Plan, October 8th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, for over two years consultation on the CPP took place right across the country, not only by the federal government but every provincial government had discussions in their houses.

There will be a legislative committee which will deal with it. Hearings will be held.

The issue is why the Reform Party is trying to crush this debate.

[Canada Pension Plan, October 8th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, CPP stands for a basic pension for all working Canadians.

CPP stands for a disability pension for Canadians when they need it, which the Reform Party refuses to offer.

CPP stands for maternity benefits, which the Reform Party refuses to offer.

CPP stands for the Canadian government standing behind the Canadian people, which the Reform Party refuses to do.

[Income Taxes, October 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I repeat, if the hon. member looks at what happened last week with the reduction in long term interest rates, mortgage rates have been at an all time low.

I would refer him back to his own province and the consultation that took place. Citizens from all over the province came together and effectively came to much the same conclusion as the government: it is worthwhile investing in Canadians. That is what we are going to do.

[Income Taxes, October 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member was a member of the House during the course of the last mandate. He knows full well that in the last budget taxes were reduced by over $2 billion.

Does the hon. member feel that reducing taxes for students so that they can pay for their schooling, that reducing taxes for the physically disabled so that they are given a level playing field, that helping poor families with children is not the kind of thing the government should do? We feel that it is.

[Auditor General, October 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the facts speak for themselves. When we came to power, there was a $6 billion deficit. Today, there is a surplus. When we came to power, the rates of contribution were going up, year after year. Since we came to power, they have gone down from $3.07 to $2.90 and it has been announced that they will drop to $2.80 in November.

[Auditor General, October 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is well aware that the contribution level is set according to the economy, the government accounts, and a combination of various data. We are adhering exactly to established procedure.

[Auditor General's Report, October 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the analysis is well known. The leader of the Conservative Party is very badly placed to comment on unemployment insurance premiums. The prime minister has set it out very clearly.

Let us be very clear. For a Tory to blame the Liberals for the unemployment insurance premiums is like a mosquito blaming the doctor for malaria.

[Employment, October 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, since we have taken office we have already put a million Canadians back into the workforce.

I refer the leader of the New Democratic Party to the numbers that came out last week. Long term interest rates have dropped and five year mortgage rates are now at the lowest level they have been since 1965.

[Employment, October 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, everything the government has done since it took office, whether it be re-establishing the credibility of government to bring interest rates down, keeping inflation low, investing in research and development or investing in youth employment, has been directed to the one aim of giving Canadians an opportunity for a better quality of life and greater job creation.

Since we have taken office over a million jobs have been created in the private sector. It is very clear that the policies we have put in place have worked.

[Canada Pension Plan, October 6th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, as a result of the change in the plan whereby it will be invested in the markets by a private sector investment board at arm's length from government, it is fully expected that the plan will in fact have a return commensurate with any private sector plan. Certainly that is a better return than that suggested by the Reform Party under the super RRSP given the fact that its administration costs are going to be the lowest of any pension plan in the country.