House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2019, with 34% of the vote.
Government Policies April 13th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, before this House at this very moment there is: $5 billion for cities and communities, $5 billion for children and early learning, $2.7 billion for senior citizens, $3 billion for Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, $5 billion for the environment, $3.4 billion for foreign aid, $13 billion for national defence, and $12 billion for tax relief.
That is a demonstration of moral authority and moral responsibility: delivering the goods.
The Budget April 12th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, maybe it was the $5 billion for cities and communities, or the $5 billion for children and early learning, or the $2.7 billion for senior citizens, or the $3 billion for Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia, or the $5 billion for the environment, or the greenest budget in Canadian history, or the $3.4 billion in foreign aid, or the $13 billion for the Canadian armed forces, or the $12 billion in tax relief. Maybe it is just that we have the best fiscal performance since 1867 and the best fiscal performance in all the G-7 countries.
Natural Resources April 12th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition has said that the budget measures generally are a step in the right direction. He has said that there is nothing in the budget that should defeat the government. He has also indicated his support for the Atlantic accords.
It seems that all those things have come together in one very happy package, and the answer is to pass the budget.
Finance April 6th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, as usual, the various forecasters that comment on projections with respect to the economy and the fiscal situation offer a broad range of views, some of them very conservative, some of them quite aggressive.
The end result is we can, if we like, like the opposition, pick a favourite economist and go to one extreme or the other. Or we can develop a consensus view that averages all of those points of view and come up with a reasonable position in the middle. That approach has produced for Canada the best fiscal position in the G-7 and the best fiscal record since 1867.
The Budget April 5th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, this deal is hugely important to Newfoundland and Labrador and to Nova Scotia. The two premiers of those provinces have told me how very important it is for the opposition to support the government on this measure and get this passed at the earliest possible moment.
The measure is before the House at this very moment. It is called the budget, and it can be passed today.
The Budget April 5th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, when putting together the fiscal framework for the Government of Canada, one has to make a lot of decisions and a lot of tough choices. We made those choices on issues like cities, for example, senior citizens, the environment, national defence and foreign aid.
We bring them all together in a coherent, comprehensive package. That is what we do with a budget. When we vote on a budget, we cannot cherry-pick one thing we like and one thing we do not like. We have to take the package together.
If the hon. gentleman wants a comment on reneging on agreements, ask David Orchard.
Citizenship and Immigration March 24th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, in response to the former minister of immigration and the minister of immigration before that, indeed the discussion is already under way. That led to the first step which was taken in the budget a number of days ago, and that is $300 million to increase the resources available for immigration settlement across the country. A very significant portion of that will flow to Ontario because that is where the majority of immigrants go. Obviously in the future we have very much in mind accelerating our rate of investment in immigration settlement.
Airline Industry March 24th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the hon. gentleman keeps asking the same question and the answer remains the same. This is an issue that the government proposes to address. The next increase in the rents is not scheduled until January 1 of next year, and the issue will be dealt with long before that.
Budget Implementation Act, 2005 March 24th, 2005
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-43, an act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 23, 2005.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Department of Human Resources and Skills Development Act March 23rd, 2005
moved that Bill C-23, an act to establish the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development and to amend and repeal certain related acts, be read the third time and passed.