Mr. Speaker, in 1986, the auditor general insisted that the government's consolidated fund include the employment insurance fund. We are complying with the auditor general's request.
House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 48% of the vote.
Employment Insurance November 19th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, in 1986, the auditor general insisted that the government's consolidated fund include the employment insurance fund. We are complying with the auditor general's request.
International Aid November 19th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, at the meeting of the World Bank in Prague a year and a half ago, it was Canada that took a leadership role on the issue of the moratorium on debt repayment for poor countries.
This past weekend, here in Ottawa, once again it was Canada that took a leadership role at the G-20, the IMF and the World Bank on the issue of reducing the debt for the poorest countries. This was accepted by the other countries and we will continue to fight for it.
International Aid November 19th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, we increased foreign aid in the last budget. In the budget before that, we increased foreign aid; and in the budget prior to that one, we increased foreign aid.
Incidentally, we are one of the few countries among the G-7, which, despite seeing its debt go up year after year, has still played a leadership role by extending the moratorium on debt repayment by the poorest countries. It is Canada that has played a leadership role.
International Aid November 19th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, not only was there a consensus on the need for increased aid, but there were specific measures.
I need only mention that, in the case of the write off of the debts of the poorest countries, a very clear agreement was reached to the effect that all countries that reach the starting point will receive other aid following the events of September 11. Those countries having difficulty reaching that point will have additional aid. This is just an example.
International Aid November 19th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I can tell the leader of the Bloc Quebecois that the meeting of the G-20, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank on the weekend was a huge success in everyone's estimation.
Since it was considered a success by commentators around the world and by all the participants, I think the leader of the Bloc Quebecois could for once congratulate his fellow Canadians on their success.
The Economy November 8th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, what the Alliance calls pork is CAPC, a program to help young mothers and young families. What the Alliance calls pork is the child benefit, the most important new innovation.
By 2004 there will be $9 billion going out to young Canadian families, helping them raise their children. That is what Alliance members call pork. If they want to see pork they ought to look in the mirror.
The Economy November 8th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the other day I had occasion to sit down and do a calculation of the spending proposals put forward by the Alliance since the election campaign.
The House might be interested in knowing that the Alliance Party has put forth some $36 billion in new spending since the election campaign. The only thing I can say is that the tax and spend Alliance even makes the NDP look responsible.
National Defence November 8th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member would care to take a look at the October statement and at the previous budget, he would see that over the last three years there have been substantial increases in the military budget.
At the same time, if the hon. member would care to take a look at the role that the Canadians have played in Kosovo and the role that they are playing now in Afghanistan, he would see a military effort that makes Canada proud.
The Minister of National Defence has fought very hard for the military and that is the main reason that there have been those substantial increases in funding, and we will stand behind our armed forces.
National Defence November 8th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition has had the opportunity in the prebudget debate to make his views known. The government will be bringing down the budget very soon, at which point all things will be revealed to him.
I wonder if I might just say one thing. When I was a very young fellow, my father took me out in an election campaign and brought along a young member, who was running for the first time, to knock on doors. He said to this young person “If you learn these lessons well you will be around a long time”. I am delighted to say that my father was right and the member has been around for a great long time.
The Economy November 7th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, it really does no good for the hon. member to engage in this kind of fearmongering about the Canadian economy. Canadians understand that there are problems. They understand that there are problems outside their borders and they understand that they impact upon them, but they also know that they are doing better than most other countries. They also know that our disposable income has just achieved an all time high.
The resilience of Canadians is now being seen in the way we are reacting to the slowdown and Canadians are not going to allow the Reform Party, the Alliance, to put them down.