House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 48% of the vote.
Employment Insurance December 7th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should know that, on the one hand, we just lowered employment insurance contributions and that, on the other hand, these contributions have been reduced by $6.8 billion since we took office. This is money that is in the taxpayers' pockets and that is very important for job creation.
Taxation December 7th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the House of Commons and the Canadian people are entitled to more than the garbage, the nonsense, that the opposition critic is offering.
In fact, as I said in my opening remarks, we are worried about the loss of full time jobs but the fact of the matter is that there were more jobs created in Canada than were lost.
The problem we have in North America is the 330,000 jobs lost in the United States and the impact that will have on us in Canada. That is the kind of thing we have to worry about. How do we stimulate domestic demand? How do we make sure this economy operates? That is what the hon. member opposite ought to be worrying about.
Taxation December 7th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, every time a job is lost in Canada it obviously is of great concern to the government. It also ought to be of equal concern to the opposition so that we can in fact have an intelligent debate. That means that the opposition critic should not stand up and essentially put out numbers which make no sense.
The fact is that the unemployment rate went up because more Canadians sought to enter the workforce. That action is a sign of confidence. The fact is that there were more jobs created last month in Canada than there were jobs lost, compared to over 330,000 jobs--
Auditor General's Report December 7th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition ought to know, in any event, that the government has been very assiduous in the way it has controlled spending. If we take a look at our spending compared to where it was when we took office that becomes manifestly clear.
What I would simply say to the hon. member in terms of the budget is that I look forward to seeing him on Monday.
The Economy November 26th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to announce that the government's budget to be presented in the House on December 10 will be the perfect antidote to the fearmongering of the opposition.
The Economy November 26th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I am not quite sure that the traditional question from the finance critic of the opposition is supposed to lead to such rhetorical flourishes and indignations.
It is, however, a great pleasure for me to announce that the government's next budget will be brought down here in this House on Monday, December 10 at 4 p.m.
Tax Point Transfer November 19th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I just gave an answer on tax points. When we talk about transfers, all I can say is that equalization is the ultimate transfer: it is a transfer from the Canadian government to the provinces.
Transfers for health and education are ultimate transfers. They are transfers from the Canadian government to the provinces and the Canadian Alliance voted against them.
Tax Point Transfer November 19th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, when we look at the whole evolution of tax points, it is very clear that, for example, a tax point in Ontario or in Alberta is worth a lot more per capita than a tax point in Quebec or in Nova Scotia.
So, if we agreed to transfer tax points, we would be penalizing Quebec and the other beneficiary provinces in favour of the richest provinces. We are not prepared to do that.
Employment Insurance November 19th, 2001
—and this is not our intention. In fact, this is not what Canadians want.
Employment Insurance November 19th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the plan proposed by the Bloc Quebecois would put us in a deficit almost immediately—