House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 65% of the vote.
Health Care November 18th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the minister defends his own abysmal record by attacking others, but it was the Liberal government that cut the $7 billion in transfers. This minister is the one who is responsible for 188,000 sick people being on waiting lines.
I want to know how long those waiting lines have to get—250,000, 300,000 or 500,000—before the minister acknowledges he has a problem that he is not fixing.
Health Care November 18th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, no one believes these Liberal stock answers any more. Canadians are looking at what the Liberals have done to health care, not what they say.
Financial transfers from the health minister to the provinces are at an all time low. Federal funding for Ontario hospitals alone has fallen from 50% of federal funding to 11.5%.
With $10.4 billion in the bank why have the Liberals not done anything to follow up on their so-called number one priority?
Health Care November 18th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, let us talk about the Liberal assault on health care: thousands of hepatitis C victims hung out to dry, 188,000 sick people on the waiting list, 1,400 doctors have left the country in the last two years, and $7 billion in transfer cuts to the provinces.
How bad does the record have to get before the health minister acknowledges that he has a problem?
Finance November 17th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the finance minister is playing a shell game with the money of Canadian taxpayers. He pads expenses with future projects to make the surplus look smaller so he can say there is no money for tax relief. He cuts $7 billion out of health care, gives $2 billion back and thinks no one will notice there is $5 billion missing.
Does the finance minister actually think these kinds of shell games will fool anyone other than gullible Liberal backbenchers?
Finance November 17th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the auditor general has pointed out that the finance minister is billing Canadian taxpayers for programs that have not even started yet.
If a private business were to book expenses that have not yet been made to hide the true size of its profit, the revenue minister would have that business in court.
Why should the finance minister be allowed to get away with accounting practices which would land a taxpayer in court or in jail?
Finance November 17th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, for yet another year the auditor general has refused to sign off on the finance minister's accounting trickery.
The auditor general says the finance minister is improperly billing the taxpayer today for spending that will not happen for years. He objects to the finance minister's trying to hide billions of dollars from Canadians who want tax relief and debt reduction today.
What is the point of even having an auditor general when this finance minister simply laughs in his face and ignores his recommendations?
Taxation November 16th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, Canadian taxpayers want a reward. Where is the tax relief?
This month this finance minister is going to try to twist the arm of the Employment Insurance Commission to keep ripping off workers and employers with excessively high payroll tax rates. He has an option to return those dollars to Canadians.
Will the finance minister give workers and employers the tax relief and cuts in employment insurance rates that they deserve, according to the chief actuary himself?
Taxation November 16th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, taking an extra $10 billion from taxpayers is not tax relief. It is called gouging. It is called having the highest personal income taxes in the western world. It is called punishing employers and employees with unreasonable payroll taxes.
Personal income taxes are up $2 billion and corporate income taxes are up by almost $1 billion.
Why will the finance minister not admit that his so-called surplus is nothing more than evidence that he is overtaxing, gouging the taxpayers?
Taxation November 16th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, last month the finance minister said that Canada risked falling back into a deficit so we had to keep taxes ratcheted up high.
Now we learn that the finance minister has actually overtaxed Canadians by $10 billion in just the first six months of 1998. He has set a new record for gouging taxpayers, taking billions from Canadians whom the government itself defines as living in poverty.
How could the finance minister miscalculate the budget surplus by so much? Why is he trying to hide overtaxation?
Michel Trudeau November 16th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, our hearts go out today to former Prime Minister Trudeau and Margaret Trudeau-Kemper on the tragic loss of their son Michel.
Every parent's nightmare came true for them last week as Michel died in an avalanche in British Columbia. Michel inherited his father's love for Canada's outdoors. He was a sociable young man who loved to travel and enjoyed hiking and skiing with his friends. It was in following those passions that Michel tragically perished.
As a father of five I can only imagine the pain of losing a child. I know the love and hope his parents must have felt for him and I can only imagine their feeling of loss.
I know that my words or any words spoken here today will provide little comfort for them in their time of grief but I want Michel's father and mother and entire family to know that they are in the thoughts and prayers of every member of this House.