House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 64% of the vote.
Employment April 22nd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, we have been clear.
We have reduced customs tariffs by more than half a billion dollars a year for consumers. We believe that it makes no sense to give China, India and other countries special tax breaks.
I am a little surprised by the question because that member wrote to the government in 2010 asking for tax increases on such consumer goods as iPods.
National Defence April 22nd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, these soldiers were overpaid because of an administrative error.
The minister clearly stated that he intervened to ensure that soldiers would not have to repay the amounts in question. Contrary to the NDP, this government wholeheartedly supports the actions, activities and missions of our troops in Afghanistan. We are very proud of them.
National Defence April 22nd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, as you may know, this is a particular case where certain soldiers were paid more than they should have been because of an administrative error. That should not have been the case and is certainly not the fault of the soldiers themselves. For that reason, the minister has made it very clear they will not have to repay those amounts.
We very strongly support our soldiers. We not only support them, we have supported, through the entirety of the past decade, their mission in Afghanistan, and we will continue to support them in that dangerous—
The Environment April 22nd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, what the leader of the NDP should understand is the reason the Federation of Canadian Municipalities so strongly supported these changes is under previous legislation. In fact, there was no effective protection, and 98% of all projects were approved, but only after long delays and unnecessary bureaucracy.
This government is making sure we focus our actions on real environmental needs while not blocking projects that are needed by Canadian municipalities.
The Environment April 22nd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear that, unlike Kyoto, what we need is an effective international protocol that will cause all nations and all major emitters to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. That is what we are working for internationally and that is what we are doing in Canada.
While we have in fact had economic growth in this country, we have also seen a drop in greenhouse gas emissions as well as other important actions by the government to protect land and marine protected areas. We have every intention of continuing to work in favour of our environment.
The Environment April 22nd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, no federal government has done more for the environment than this one. We have expanded our marine protected areas by extraordinary amounts.
For the very first time, we have reduced greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, and we intend to continue in that direction.
Taxation April 15th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, this government has made enormous reductions in tariffs and custom duties, and of course, in taxes generally, including sales taxes, for the Canadian people. Every time we have done that, the Liberal Party has voted against those reductions.
What the Liberal Party seems to stand for is that somehow we should give special tax breaks to emerging economies like China. We think that is inappropriate. That is why we will make sure there is fair taxation for all companies and lower taxes for Canadians.
Taxation April 15th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the government has lowered tariffs for Canadians considerably. We do not think it is effective or fair to give companies from emerging countries like China advantages at the expense of Canadian taxpayers.
Taxation April 15th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the member on being elected the new leader of the Liberal Party.
The government has reduced Canadian tariffs by over a half a billion dollars a year, which is one of the ways we are reducing taxes for Canadians. Of course, the Liberal Party voted against all of these measures to reduce taxes for Canadian families.
Employment April 15th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, there are so many falsehoods in that preamble, I do not know where to begin.
The facts are the following: this country, this government, has an outstanding job creation record compared to most of the developed world. More Canadians are working. More Canadians need work, and more employers need workers. At the same time, we are clear that we will make sure that the temporary foreign workers program will be used only as it is intended. We promised that in the budget. In spite of that, the NDP voted against it and then writes us to ask for more temporary foreign workers. They are the ones who have to explain their contradictions.