House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2019, with 34% of the vote.
Sponsorship Program March 12th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, let me again make the point that the advertising relationship with the firm known as Groupe Everest was entered into prior to the fall of 1993 by the previous Conservative government.
It was an inherited circumstance and the finance minister and his office took steps at the earliest possible moment to complete the business and change the arrangement.
Sponsorship Program March 12th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, first of all, I admire the courage of Mr. Cutler and I wish him well in the testimony that he is giving. People coming forward in these circumstances to shed light on previously existing situations is exactly what was called for by the Prime Minister.
There is nothing in the testimony that has been given by Mr. Cutler that would in any way relate directly to the Prime Minister or the former minister of finance.
Sponsorship Program March 12th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I am afraid the hon. gentleman is muddling a number of things together.
First of all, with respect to the memorandum from Ms. O'Leary, it is very clear that the memorandum calls for more competition, not less. It also refers to a relationship with the firm known as Everest which, in fact, was a relationship entered into by the previous Conservative government.
Sponsorship Program March 12th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I expect my staff to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times, consistent with all of their duties and obligations including all the relevant laws of the land.
Taxation March 8th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, obviously on the eve of a budget I am not in a position to comment in any detail upon any fiscal or tax matter, but I will take the hon. member's question as a representation.
Health March 8th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the answers to those two questions are no and no. In fact, I hope the budget will be in a position to make some important contributions to Canadian quality of life, but I would point out to the hon. gentleman that extrapolations of the surplus are grossly exaggerated and in fact we are dealing with a very tight fiscal situation.
Health March 8th, 2004
No, Mr. Speaker.
In fact, all of the expenditures by various levels of government on health in Canada today total about $87 billion. The federal contribution to that is about $34 billion. That is 40%, not 16%.
Taxation March 8th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I hate to disillusion the hon. member, but I am afraid there will be no enormous surpluses. I would point out that on the analysis filed by the Conference Board a 1% variation in either revenue or expenditure changes a projected surplus of $80 billion to a deficit of $10 billion.
Taxation March 8th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the study being referred to, done by the Conference Board, is in fact a static linear projection that as we stand here today is already out of date because its assumptions are out of date.
That projection does not include any investments in municipalities. It does not include the most recent thrust with respect to health care. Obviously the study suffers from some very major statistical defects. In fact, the evidence of the government's performance is in the investments that we make in children, in education, in health, in communities--
Taxation February 26th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, to the best of my knowledge I have no buddies in that category, but I would assure the honourable gentleman that the issue he raises is one of serious concern to me and that I have the issue under active consideration, both in the nature of the problem and in the proper way to deal with the problem so that unfair tax advantages are not in fact provided.