Ralph Goodale

[The Economy, April 30th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the budget notwithstanding, the Canadian economy is in obvious trouble.

It shrank in January, worse than first reported. February was flat. Oil and gas have tumbled. Manufacturing was supposed to pick up the slack, but it is dropping too. U.S. growth was supposed to pull Canada along, but that is not happening either. A thousand more jobs are gone today at GM. Thirty-five per cent of Canadian families are carrying debt ratios over 200%.

Why did we waste two months for a pointless budget with no plan for growth and not even a basic job creation target?

[Ongoing Situation in Ukraine, April 29th, 2015]

Mr. Chair, I hope we will hear from the Minister of National Defence this evening about the precise details of the training mission that is now under way, exactly the role being played by Canadians and his forecast for how that mission will unfold.

Now that Canada is committed to that mission, and as he indicated, the Liberals are supportive of that measure, would it be useful for Canada and for this Parliament, in what is likely to be a rather busy political season in Canada in the months ahead, for a committee of Canadian parliamentarians to have the opportunity to visit the training sites in Ukraine in the period immediately ahead so we can all better inform ourselves of the exact nature of that training mission that is now beginning to get under way?

[Ongoing Situation in Ukraine, April 29th, 2015]

Mr. Chair, as most members have mentioned this evening, over the many months that this topic has been discussed on the floor of the House of Commons or in our parliamentary committees, it has largely been a non-partisan discussion with all parties representing the vast majority of Canadians wanting to do everything conceivable and reasonable to support freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Ukraine, and to assist the Ukrainian people in facing the interference that they are facing from Russia.

The training mission in that regard is important. We indicated very quickly after this announcement was made by the government that we would be supportive. I take if from what the defence critic for the NDP has said tonight that his party as well is supporting the training mission that Canada has sent to Ukraine.

I wonder if he could elaborate upon that support.

[Ongoing Situation in Ukraine, April 29th, 2015]

Mr. Chair, I thank the minister for his comments this evening, for the motion that is before the House and for the opportunity to discuss this matter. It is not the first time. I remember when we gathered in December, I think two Christmases ago, to talk about what was going on in the Euromaidan. There has been some movement since that time, but there has also been a great deal of tragedy.

I would like to ask the minister about measures that Canada can take to be strong and forceful in this situation, apart from the training. That matter will be commented upon in detail by our foreign affairs critic. I think it is already a matter of public record that we support the government in this initiative. It is important to make those resources available.

I would like to ask the minister particularly about some economic measures that could be helpful in bringing a resolution to the situation. I know it is an extremely complicated matter. It is easier said than done, but I would like to know what discussion has been held among foreign affairs ministers or finance ministers within NATO or among others of our allies about the SWIFT financial system, which of course is the system that facilitates international banking. Russian commerce is facilitated by SWIFT. If Russia's participation in SWIFT were in some way interdicted, that would have a very powerful impact. I realize it is a complicated matter and as I said, it is easier said than done, but I would like to have the minister's reflections on the extent to which this measure has been discussed among foreign ministers or finance ministers within NATO or otherwise.

[The Budget, April 23rd, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, here are the government's priorities: cut support for low-income seniors, take $28,000 from the most vulnerable elderly women living alone, and use that so-called saving to pay for more expensive TFSAs for the wealthy, or just do not worry about, let the grandchildren pay for it.

On top of $4,400 in new federal debt already larded onto every newborn child by the government, our grandchildren will be stuck with another $15 billion or $20 billion in TFSA costs, only for the wealthy. How is that fair?

[The Budget, April 23rd, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, with a contribution limit of $5,500, tax-free savings accounts are generally available to most Canadians.

However, only one third actually participate and less than one quarter of that one third can contribute the maximum. Doubling contributions mostly helps wealthier Canadians at a cost of tens of billions of dollars.

Meanwhile, support for low-income seniors is cut. The lowest income, most vulnerable seniors will lose $28,000 from their OAS and GIS. Why the double standard?

[Questions on the Order Paper, April 22nd, 2015]

With regard to legal costs incurred by the government: what are all costs incurred for legal services, broken down by services provided internally and services contracted out, relating to to (i) Federation of Law Societies of Canada v. Canada (Attorney General), 2013 BCCA 147, (ii) R. v. Anderson, 2013 NLCA, (iii) R. v. Smickle, 2013 ONCA 678, (iv) R. v. Nur, 2013 ONCA 677, (v) R. v. Charles, 2013 ONCA 681, (vi) R. v. Hill, 2012 ONSC 5050, (vii) Canada (Attorney General) v. Whaling, 2014 SCC 20, (viii) Reference re Supreme Court Act, ss. 5 and 6, 2014, (ix) Canada (Attorney General) v. Whaling, 2014 SCC 20, [2014] 1 S.C.R. 392, (x) Smith v. Canada (Attorney General), [2010] 1 FCR 3, 2009 FC 228, (xi) Canada (Justice) v. Khadr, [2008] 2 S.C.R. 125, (xii) Canada (Prime Minister) v. Khadr, 2010 SCC 3, (xiii) Canada (Attorney General) v. PHS Community Services Society, 2011 SCC 44, [2011] 3 S.C.R. 134, (xiv) Canadian Doctors For Refugee Care v. Canada (Attorney general), 2014 FC 651, (xv) Reference re Supreme Court Act, ss. 5 and 6, 2014 SCC 21, [2014] 1 S.C.R. 433?

[The Economy, April 1st, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, here is the government's record: the economy is shrinking, unemployment is up, TD Bank says it is getting worse, CIBC says job quality is at the lowest ebb in 25 years, BNN is reporting the most pessimistic business outlook since the last recession, and the Bank of Canada says only substantial monetary stimulus is keeping Canada from falling back into recession.

When will the government stop undermining Governor Poloz? Where is the fiscal plan to recover the 191,000 jobs lost by the government in the last two years?

[The Economy, April 1st, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, there has been a drop in job creation of 191,000 jobs, and that is because there is no economic growth. We cannot lift the middle class and all those working so hard just to get there without greater growth. We cannot get balanced budgets without greater growth, but the government's growth record is actually the worst of any in 80 years. The Bank of Canada now calls it atrocious, and it is getting worse. All projections are downward.

Why is the government somehow content being atrocious? Where is the plan to fend off another recession?

[Petitions, March 31st, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I have noted that a number of members of Parliament across all party lines and from all parts of the country have been filing petitions with respect to the rights of farmers and their use, reuse, exchange and selling of seeds. I have another of those petitions, signed by various people across Saskatchewan, including a number in White City, Saskatchewan.

The petitioners call upon the Parliament of Canada to enshrine in legislation the inalienable rights of farmers and other Canadians to save, reuse, select, exchange and sell seeds.