Paul Martin

[Monetary Policy, March 24th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, our objection when the Conservative government was in power was the really savage way they wrestled with inflation to bring it down. But we paid the price and we are there now! After making such hard-won gains, now is not the time to give them up.

[Monetary Policy, March 24th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, we will maintain the strategy of pursuing an inflation target of 1 to 3 per cent, with a goal of 2 per cent. We will do so because we want to create jobs and we want the economy to grow. The hon. member, as a reputable economist, knows very well why and I wonder why he asks such silly questions.

[Unemployment Insurance Reform, March 24th, 1994]

You are right, I withdraw the reference to hypocritical.

[Unemployment Insurance Reform, March 24th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of his question, the hon. member quoted from a survey which was reported in this morning's edition of La Presse . I would like to quote the article in question: ``After leading the way in the House of Commons on the issue of the military college in Saint-Jean, the Bloc has chosen not to mention this matter at all in its review of the Martin budget. Instead, on the subject of defence, it criticizes the minister for not making deeper cuts''.

How inconsistent, Mr. Speaker. How hypocritical!

[Unemployment Insurance Reform, March 24th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, not only have we rolled back the UI premium rate in our budget in order to create jobs, not only have we talked about funding a new training plan to provide more training to our workers, but yesterday-and it surprises me that the hon. member is not asking me a question about this-the Minister of Human Resources Development and New Brunswick Premier Frank McKenna announced a program specifically designed to help Canadian workers.

[Unemployment Insurance Reform, March 24th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, there is no question, and the Minister of Human Resources Development has repeatedly said so, that we intend to begin a process of fundamentally reforming unemployment insurance in order to better prepare workers for training and to create jobs. We have embarked on a course that will enable us to achieve this goal and we will stay this course.

[The Budget, March 23rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, we said very clearly that the February 22 budget was the first stage of a two-stage process.

We had been in power for slightly over 100 days when we brought in our first budget and what we were doing was reviewing all government operations. That review is under way and its results will be manifest not only in the next budget but in announcements that will be made by ministers over the course of the next year and in periods following.

We were elected on two bases, one to create jobs and one to clean up the nation's finances. There is no doubt in my mind that at the end of our mandate, the Canadian people will find that we have been faithful to our word.

[The Budget, March 23rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, what the Prime Minister said is exactly what I said in the House when the budget was presented, that the cuts and the actions taken in the February 22 budget in and of themselves will lead to a reduction of the deficit, bringing it to the point of 3 per cent of GDP in three years.

At the same time in the budget, and the Prime Minister repeated it, there were a series of measures regarding the re-examination of the way that government operates. Some are led by the Minister responsible for Public Service Renewal, a number of others are led by the Minister of Human Resources Development, and a series of other ministers, including the Minister of Transport, is going to continue to lead our efforts to clean up the nation's finances.

That is what the Prime Minister said, that is what I said, and that is our position.

[Hyundai Plant In Bromont, March 23rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I already said that I was very disappointed by Hyundai's decision. I am very familiar with the situation-in fact, I live in the hon. member's constituency-and I know the region very well. I fully agree to co-operate with the Quebec government and the municipality of Bromont to truly find a solution to this situation.

The red book, to which the hon. member just referred, includes a plan to fight unemployment, which certainly applies to the Eastern Townships. I hope to report soon on the discussions with the Quebec government on job creation.

[Hyundai Plant In Bromont, March 23rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, it is certainly a relief to see that they have stopped directing questions to the Minister of Finance.

As you know, the Quebec minister of Industry himself, Mr. Tremblay, said yesterday that he was still hoping to negotiate with the automakers and that he intended to contact them. In fact, I think he had already done so. Therefore, we should wait for the outcome of the discussions between Mr. Tremblay and those companies.