Paul Martin

[Natural Resources, October 28th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition's words have not been distorted. The problem with the Leader of the Opposition is that he cannot stand it when his own words are quoted to him exactly. I would simply ask him if he would ask his seatmate from Nova Scotia as to what he said about the Leader of the Opposition. Cultural defeatism is exactly what he said about Atlantic Canadians. He was wrong then and he is wrong now.

[Natural Resources, October 28th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is the very same person who has consistently accused Atlantic Canadians of a culture of defeatism. He is the very same person who basically has said that Atlantic Canadians are not prepared to work to get the type of prosperity they need. The Leader of the Opposition will not make anything happen.

[Natural Resources, October 28th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, my director of communications has apologized for those statements. What he has said is that the rhetoric on both sides has simply become too high. He apologized unequivocally.

I have spoken to the Premier of Newfoundland about that. Given the fact the premier and I are talking and we want to get down to work, I would suggest that the Leader of the Opposition allow that to happen.

[Government Policies, October 27th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, let us take a look at what those commitments are: the most important equalization deal since the second world war. A meeting on child care and early learning will be held next week among the officials and among the ministers, and long before the OECD report came out, because the government understands the importance of early childhood development and child care.

We will give $7 billion over a period of 10 years in GST rebates to the cities. We are now sitting down with the cities and the communities to make sure the gas tax flows. The government keeps its commitments.

[Government Policies, October 27th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member makes reference to the health care deal: $41 billion over the course of the next 10 years, national benchmarks, accountability to Canadians, a home care fund, and money invested in creating new doctors, nurses and paramedics. This was Mr. Romanow of the hon. member's party, or at least at one time. The fact is that Mr. Romanow said that this was an epic-making event in terms of the development of health care, and Mr. Romanow was right.

[Taxation, October 27th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, since the leader of the Bloc Québécois has asked the question, this year, that is, 2004-05, Quebec will receive an extra $477 million, bringing its equalization total to $4.155 billion.

Next year it will be an extra $1.1 billion. This money is coming from yesterday's agreement, money that was not there a month ago.

[Taxation, October 27th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, many of the premiers said they were very satisfied with the agreement we discussed yesterday. There certainly are differences of opinion, just as there are differences of opinion among the provinces.

Nevertheless, I can tell the leader of the Bloc Québécois that this is the most important change with respect to equalization in the country's history. Some $28 billion to $33 billion or more will be turned over to the provinces during the next decade. That is additional money, something that has not ever been seen before.

[Sponsorship Program, October 27th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I have on numerous occasions in this House said that I will not comment on daily testimony in front of the commission because it simply leads to misunderstanding. In fact it is very clear from the question of the Leader of the Opposition.

Let me simply say, I stand by my words.

[Natural Resources, October 27th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt when we look at the situation in Newfoundland and Labrador, that in terms of its debt and the fiscal capacity of the province, all of us have an interest in ensuring that Newfoundland and Labrador does well. We have a great window of opportunity, given the current prices of commodities, natural resources and oil, to do just that.

It is my intention to fulfill exactly the agreement that I reached with the premier.

[Natural Resources, October 27th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I had an opportunity to speak to Premier Williams this morning. The suggestion I have made is that our officials should meet. I am very clear in terms of the understanding that we had arrived at, and I am certainly prepared and in fact most desirous of fulfilling that understanding.

To the extent that there are differences of opinion, I believe our officials should meet. We will see what will come from that.