Stephen Harper

[National Defence, April 1st, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the government has already announced the cost and the Minister of National Defence has already announced the cost.

When we talk about the budget, I can assure the hon. member that the government will not only bring forward a budget, but we will make sure Canadians are well aware of the contents of that budget and how those measures impact them. We will make sure they are aware of the doubling of the children's fitness tax credit, of the increase of the child care expense deduction, of the new family tax cut, and of the enhancement of the universal child care benefit.

I know that the NDP would like to take all those things away and raise people's taxes, but we will make sure they are aware of them and they benefit from them.

[The Budget, April 1st, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the Bank of Canada and all the experts are predicting an increase in economic growth this year.

The leader of the NDP mentioned the manufacturing sector. We have done a lot for the manufacturing sector despite opposition from the NDP. The NDP voted against cutting the corporate income tax rate for that sector. It voted against extending the accelerated capital cost allowance for that sector. The NDP voted against the automotive innovation fund for the auto industry and against the national shipbuilding procurement strategy—

[The Budget, April 1st, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, let us be clear what the record is on this side: 1.2 million net new jobs since the end of the recession; the lowest tax rates in the G7; the lowest debt levels in the G7; but by far, and far ahead of other countries, a balanced budget. That is why our country has good economic growth prospects for the long term.

There are many measures before the House right now, including measures that put money into the pockets of families for child care and other expenses that will do so immediately this year. I call on the NDP and others to drop their ideological belief in high taxes and support things for Canadian families.

[The Budget, April 1st, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the government continues to announce measures as part of its economic action plan. Some measures were introduced recently to put money into the pockets of Canadian families, such as the doubling of the children's fitness tax credit, an increase in the child care expense deduction, the new family tax cut and the enhancement of the universal child care benefit.

These measures are already before the House of Commons, and I encourage the NDP and all parties to support them for the good of the Canadian economy.

[The Economy, March 31st, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, we will not hike taxes for the energy industry because of falling oil prices, nor will we impose carbon taxes on Canadian consumers. Those are Liberal Party policies.

We on this side of the House are lowering taxes for all Canadian families, which boosts their earnings. I encourage the Liberal Party to change its philosophy, support our initiatives and put money into the pockets of Canadians.

[The Economy, March 31st, 2015]

Once again, Mr. Speaker, the Canadian economy has grown over the past year and all experts, including the Bank of Canada, anticipate it will grow over this year, notwithstanding the immediate impact of energy prices.

As the leader of the Liberal Party really wants to put money into the pockets of middle-class Canadians, there is legislation before this Parliament that does that, that benefits every single middle-class, in fact every single Canadian, family in this country, but of course, the Liberal Party is wedded to tax hikes, wedded to deficits, and wedded to killing jobs.

Our politics are very different.

[The Economy, March 31st, 2015]

In fact, Mr. Speaker, I have announced recently a range of economic actions, including assistance to exporters, additional federal money into infrastructure, tax credits for small business, incentives for people to undertake apprenticeships, the apprenticeship loan program, small business financing, and many other actions.

What the leader of the Liberal Party does not understand is Canadians do not think we respond to fallen oil prices by hiking taxes on the energy industry. They do not think we respond to that by imposing carbon taxes on Canadians. What we do is put money in people's pockets, and that is what we are doing.

[Child Care, March 31st, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians do not want any of the NDP's policies, which consist of raising taxes for Canadian families and taking away the universal child care benefit.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer said that all eligible families will realize an increase in their after-tax incomes if the enhancements to the UCCB are legislated. He also said that total federal spending on child care has nearly quadrupled under our government.

[Child Care, March 31st, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, what the NDP will never understand is that the vagaries of the economy are no reason to start raising taxes on people. That does nothing but kill jobs, and on this side of the House, we are in the business of creating jobs. I know that the NDP is strongly opposed to anything that gives money to people as opposed to taking it for government for bureaucracy.

Let us see what the PBO actually said about the government's policies: “...all eligible families will realize an increase in their after-tax income if the enhancements to the UCCB...are legislated”.

Also, according to the Parliamentary Budget Office: “...total federal spending on child care nearly quadrupled” under this government.

[The Economy, March 31st, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the government is pursuing its economic action plan. I recently announced support to open new markets, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. Yesterday, I was in Ontario, where Honda announced plans to export Canadian-made vehicles to international markets—European markets—thanks to our free trade policies.

The current difficulties due to lower oil sands revenues are no reason to raise taxes, which is what the NDP wants to do. Clearly, it is time to give more money to Canadian families.