House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2011, with 33% of the vote.
Taxation April 30th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's proposal to increase taxes is irresponsible because, at the end of the day, it is the same taxpayer who has to pay. What is needed is a reallocation of the tax fields.
Will the Prime Minister acknowledge that if the federal government were to agree to this, tax increases would not be needed, and shifting this money from Ottawa to the provinces and to Quebec would enable them to provide the services they must to the public?
Taxation April 30th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister knows perfectly well that the occasional cheque written by Ottawa does not correct the fiscal imbalance. What Quebec and the provinces want is for the federal government to mind its own business.
Is it so difficult to understand that in order to correct the fiscal imbalance, the federal government has to withdraw from tax fields to give Quebec and the provinces the fiscal resources needed to do their job and assume their responsibilities?
Taxation April 29th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, is the Prime Minister able to comprehend that in order to plan their health services, for example, the provincial governments need access to an adequate tax field, rather than having to beg for money from Ottawa all the time, and never knowing how much the federal government will be in the mood to give?
Taxation April 29th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, it is the government that provides these services to the public that must have the financial resources needed to do so. Conversely, the government that is not responsible for them must withdraw.
Will the Prime Minister acknowledge that the best way to ensure quality services for the public is for the responsible government to have access to the required resources through adequate tax fields?
Taxation April 28th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, the effects of the fiscal imbalance can be seen in the budget with its huge surplus, and the throne speech which announced a series of measures in areas of provincial jurisdiction, such as education, where the three leadership candidates called for a greater role for the federal government, even for the creation of a federal department of education.
Will the Prime Minister recognize that denying the fiscal imbalance is a pretext for refusing to agree with the provinces, duplicating structures and justifying infringement in Quebec's jurisdiction?
Taxation April 28th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, it is quite convenient for the federal government to deny the fiscal imbalance. But, in truth, its existence is acknowledged not only by Quebec but by all the provinces.
Will the Prime Minister admit that, by denying the fiscal imbalance, the federal government can have it both ways? On one hand, it is cutting off the provinces, and on the other, it is using its surplus to interfere in areas of provincial jurisdiction.
Taxation April 11th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, the Deputy Prime Minister said yesterday, in his leadership campaign, that Canadians have the right to know what their leaders think. Thus, I am asking him the question.
Is there a fiscal imbalance or not?
Taxation April 11th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, the former Minister of Finance created the fiscal imbalance by cutting off funding to Quebec and the provinces. Now the Deputy Prime Minister is denying the existence of the fiscal imbalance, but wants to use the surpluses he has available to encroach freely on Quebec's jurisdiction over education.
Is that where the Deputy Prime Minister is leading us?
Tobacco Farmers April 9th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, as a result of the decision by Rothmans, Benson & Hedges to stop purchasing tobacco grown in Quebec, suddenly more than $2 million worth of sales for flue-cured tobacco farmers has disappeared. Almost all of these farmers are located in the Lanaudière region.
Unlike the federal government, which has yet to make any announcements, Quebec has already set up a task force to come up with solutions.
If it turns out that no existing federal program allows for the conversion of tobacco farms, will the minister make a commitment to create such a program to switch production from flue-cured tobacco?
Taxation April 8th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, the proof that a fiscal imbalance exists is that, as soon as Ottawa gave back part of the money it had cut from health care, the Government of Quebec was able to relieve the pressure on the system.
Does the government recognize that the fiscal imbalance must be addressed in order for Quebec and the provinces to have more money available for the health and education of their residents?