House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 71% of the vote.
Business of Supply May 25th, 2015
Mr. Chair, the minister did not answer the question of how big the department's cut is to advertising next year, but we know, based on Finance Canada's RPP, that there will be a cut of around $12 million next year to advertising. Why is the minister prepared to spend more on Finance Canada advertising this year than next year? Why will there be more advertising this year than next year?
Business of Supply May 25th, 2015
Mr. Chair, according to Finance Canada's report on plans and priorities, the economic and fiscal policy framework will be cut by $11.8 million, almost 17%, in the next year alone.
It says:
The decrease in 2016–17 relates to a reduction in government advertising and the sunset of funding for government initiatives.
How big is the department's cut to advertising next year?
Business of Supply May 25th, 2015
Mr. Chair, lower oil prices have led to a precipitous drop in Alberta's housing sales. There is often around a six-month lag between when sales fall and prices really start to fall. What does the minister expect will happen in Alberta's housing market this year?
Business of Supply May 25th, 2015
Mr. Chair, does the minister agree with his predecessor, the late Jim Flaherty, who said, “I think income-splitting needs a long, hard analytical look…to see who it affects and to what degree, because I’m not sure that overall, it benefits our society.”?
Business of Supply May 25th, 2015
Mr. Chair, is the minister aware that when the PBO examined income splitting, his office found that the largest average benefit from income splitting would go to families with an income of more than $180,000 per year? Given the constrained fiscal environment, does the minister think that is really fair?
Business of Supply May 25th, 2015
Mr. Chair, could the minister explain how income-splitting benefits a single-parent family?
Business of Supply May 25th, 2015
Mr. Chair, I do not have to answer the questions here, but I do not mind saying yes, I did change my mind. The facts have changed, and when I read the C.D. Howe report, I changed my mind on income splitting, as did the Hon. Jim Flaherty. When given the choice between being consistent and right, I think it is better to be right, and income splitting is wrong for the 85% of Canadians who do not benefit from it.
Is the minister concerned that income splitting does nothing to help single parents or low-income families?
Business of Supply May 25th, 2015
Mr. Chair, taxpayers must follow an 85-step process to qualify for income splitting. Even the tax experts who wrote the legislation actually got it wrong at least three times. Is the minister concerned about the process being too complex if his own department seems to be incapable of drafting the legislation around it?
Business of Supply May 25th, 2015
Mr. Chair, who made the error? Was it by officials in the department, or was it originally made by somebody outside of Finance Canada, imposing this on the department?
Business of Supply May 25th, 2015
Mr. Chair, when was the minister first aware or made aware of the drafting error?