House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2011, with 50% of the vote.
Intergovermental Affairs March 6th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, our government has provided more financial support to the Province of Quebec than any other government in the history of Canada. Quebec will receive, once again, $17.2 billion in transfers from our government this year. That represents an increase of nearly 44% compared to the previous Liberal government's transfer payments.
We are doing our part, but we expect the Government of Quebec to do its part, too.
Intergovernmental Affairs March 6th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, as I have already said, we are protecting transfer payments to the provinces. In fact, health transfers will continue to grow by 6% and social transfers will continue to grow by 3%. The Liberals were the ones responsible for shameful and brutal cuts to transfers to the provinces and territories.
Unlike the Liberals, we will ensure that the provinces and territories are able to provide health care, education and any other services that Canadian families need.
Health March 6th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to a publicly funded, universally accessible health care system. We all use the health care system. Our families use it and our friends use it. We want to see a strong, sustainable health care system in Canada, and that is when we need it most.
Let us be clear. Under our government, health care transfers are at record levels, from $20 billion when we formed government to $27 billion this year. Unlike the old Liberal government, we have not and will not slash funding to provinces for health care.
Intergovernmental Affairs March 6th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, when we are talking about federal support to Ontario, it is at an all time high in the history of this government. In fact, we have increased their transfers by 77% from what the Liberal government used to provide. We have said that these increases will continue, but the McGuinty government clearly has a fiscal problem.
We have done our part. We expect the McGuinty government to do its part as well.
Intergovernmental Affairs March 6th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, the federal government's financial support for the province of Quebec has reached unprecedented levels. Transfers to Quebec will be more than 44% higher than under the Liberal government. We have clearly indicated that the increases will continue. Our government has done its part, and we expect the Government of Quebec to also make an effort.
Consumer Protection March 5th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, our government is helping to protect Canadians with pro-consumer measures. We are ensuring Canadians get clear and direct information on financial products so they can make the best decision to help their families. That is why we introduced new measures to empower consumers, including banning unsolicited credit card cheques and implementing a new code of conduct on mortgage prepayment information. We also finalized measures to shorten the cheque holding period to four days and to give immediate access to the first $100 of any cheque Canadians cash.
These are important measures to help Canadians make the right financial decisions and have timely access to their own money.
Government Priorities March 5th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, as I have already said, it is this party and this government that are making families a priority. It is this government that put another $3,000 in families' pockets through tax cuts. Last week—maybe my colleague has not heard—Statistics Canada announced that the Canadian economy grew by 1.8% in the fourth quarter of 2011. That is progress. We are going to continue in the same vein and increase economic growth in Canada.
Government Priorities March 5th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, this is the party that is putting families ahead of everything else when it comes to Canadians.
To be clear, we are on track for modest growth in Canada. We are in relatively better shape than others. We are focused on implementing the next phase of Canada's economic action plan and are looking forward to March 29 when we will introduce the economic action plan for 2012.
What we have said repeatedly is that we have made the necessary decisions to stimulate the economy and we will do so if necessary. The AAA rating agencies, and Fitch in this case said recently:
Achieving fiscal consolidation and balanced budget targets are important to maintain credibility.
The Economy March 2nd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, as everyone knows, we are focused on what matters to Canadian families, and that is creating a healthy economy and helping to create jobs on which families really depend.
We have taken the right and prudent steps to do that and we are getting results. Statistics Canada has announced that our economy grew 1.8% in the fourth quarter, among the strongest in the G7, and we are proud of that.
The economic action plan 2012 will keep on supporting jobs and growth and fight the NDP's job-killing agenda.
Budget March 2nd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, this gives me a perfect opportunity to report some good news to the House. I hope that the NDP member will celebrate this good news.
We have received information that Statistics Canada reported just today that the economy has grown by 1.8% here in Canada.
I would insist that the NDP member vote with us on the upcoming budget because it will focus once again on a low-tax agenda that will help to create jobs and bring our economy more success than it has ever seen. I ask the NDP to please vote with us on the next budget.