Paul Martin

[International Development, April 23rd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Hamilton Mountain has long been an advocate of the relief of third world debt. As she knows, Canada has been one of the leading supporters of the absolute need of eradicating the debt of countries where people have less than a dollar a day of income and they are still paying out massive amounts for debt service. It makes absolutely no sense.

Under those circumstances, Canada was most concerned over the weekend to learn of the World Bank report which essentially said that debt sustainability did not take into account the volatility of the world economy and, at the same time, that there vulture funds were buying this debt. This is unacceptable. The minister for international development has said it. Canada has said it. This is our position.

[Pensions, April 23rd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted that the hon. member has asked me the question because it gives me the opportunity to basically say that the leadership on this issue has been taken by the members of the Liberal caucus. They have met with the firefighters. They have met with the Department of Finance. They have taken leadership in designing the kinds of solutions that are going to be made available.

These are things that have to be discussed with other agencies and other levels of government, but the fact is that it is the leadership of this Liberal caucus that has brought this item to the fore and they are the supporters of the firefighters in this country.

[Government Contracts, April 22nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions between officials of the Department of Finance and the Bank of Canada on this matter. There is no intention to change auditors at this time.

[Airport Security, April 22nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, it is very clear. The Minister of Transport and I have both said that 100% of the money being raised for air security will be invested in air security, the bulk of it in airports across the country. If in fact it has not been received, speaking on my behalf and on behalf of the Minister of Transport, I am sure we will look into the matter. One hundred per cent of the money for air security goes to air security.

[Airport Security, April 22nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the hon. member that 100% of the revenue that is received for air security is going back into air security. It will be invested in air security at our airports across the country.

[Trade, April 22nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I covered a wide range of areas with the U.S. secretary of the treasury who, in his previous life as a business person, has an extensive understanding of Canada. The point that I made very clearly is that this government will make all of its decisions in Canada's interest.

[Employment Insurance, April 18th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows very well, since 1986 all figures, EI included, are part of our consolidated revenue fund. This means that they are certainly used for workers; they are used to help them. They are used in numerous ways, including some that directly benefit the workers of Canada.

[Airline Industry, April 18th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport has in the House and on many occasions outlined the many series of measures and the large investments the Government of Canada is putting in across the entire airline support system. Those are moneys that are very important under the circumstances within which we live today. Under those circumstances, it is only fair that those who benefit from those services should in fact pay for them.

[Taxation, April 17th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the member knows very well that according to the conference board projections used by the Séguin commission, there is no fiscal imbalance. The projections demonstrate quite clearly that there will not be an exorbitant surplus in the next five years. If we look at the basic assumptions for the next 15 years, they still support the position of the Government of Canada.

[Auditor General's Report, April 17th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, as I said in response to an earlier question, if any parliamentary committee wants to ask the heads or the representatives of one of these foundations to appear in front of it, it can do so. Every one of those foundations produces an annual report. Then I said that the Canadian Foundation for Innovation in the last five years alone had appeared 11 times in front of various parliamentary committees.

The answer to the hon. member's question is; it is happening. He should go to committee occasionally.