House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 64% of the vote.
Aboriginal Affairs January 29th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, there were problems with water systems long before the Conservative government took office, and we have made massive investments to deal with those problems. Unfortunately, the Liberal Party voted against those investments. There is currently legislation before Parliament on this specific matter, and I would encourage the opposition to support that legislation.
Aboriginal Affairs January 29th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, this government has made massive investments in first nations water, precisely to address these problems that had been ignored for so long. As always, the Liberal Party and the other opposition parties voted against these investments, but they are important and there is also legislation before the House on this specific matter, and I would encourage all the opposition parties to give that legislation their support.
Aboriginal Affairs January 29th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the leader of the NDP did ask about the banks, but he did also ask other questions. In fact, under this government we have seen moderating of that income gap because of actions this government has taken, like cutting the GST for ordinary Canadians, something the NDP voted against, providing tax credits for families, something the NDP voted against, and specifically when we talk about aboriginal Canadians, building 260 new schools, something the NDP of course did not—
The Economy January 29th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, Canadians have obviously felt in a position to take on greater mortgage debt. The government and the Governor of the Bank of Canada have indicated some concerns about that. We have taken some steps that have indeed moderated that particular trend.
However, when we are talking about the banking sector, I do have to point out that once again this past year the World Economic Forum has rated Canada's banking system the strongest in the world. Even yesterday, with the decision, Moody's said that Canadian banks still rank among the highest rated banks in our global rating universe.
The Economy January 29th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the government has already recognized Canadians' rising debt levels.
We have taken measures that have begun to produce positive results. Speaking of Canada's banking system, once again, the World Economic Forum has said that ours is the most stable system in the world. Yesterday, Moody's said that Canadian banks are among the most highly rated of those it tracks around the world.
Government Accountability January 28th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, of course I would not in any way accept that categorization.
I would state clearly that it was this government that created the parliamentary budget office. We have done so in order to enhance a dialogue to ensure there is a non-partisan, credible source of opinion on fiscal matters. We will go forward in a way that ensures we have an officer and an office that are non-partisan and credible in their economic appraisals.
Aboriginal Affairs January 28th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I have been clear about this on many occasions: we always meet our legal obligations under the Constitution of Canada and our treaties.
We are taking meaningful action to improve the lives of ordinary aboriginal people in communities throughout the country. We are pursuing these initiatives with positive partners who also want substantial progress to be made.
Aboriginal Affairs January 28th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, in fact the government has put out a report card on the various actions it has undertaken recently to deal with a series of commitments. It is important that we make progress on these issues. As I have said many times before, aboriginal people, based on the areas in which they live in the country, will have unprecedented opportunity in the generation to come.
I notice aboriginal people have never been as strongly represented in the Government of Canada as they are in this caucus today. We intend to move forward.
Aboriginal Affairs January 28th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, protection of aboriginal treaty rights and consultations in these various processes are in fact enshrined in the very laws that this government has passed through the Parliament of Canada. On top of that, we have made unprecedented investments into things that will make a concrete difference in the lives of people, in skills training, in housing on reserves, in potable water, in schools, in treaty rights, in the protection of the rights of women and in the resolution of many land claims as well.
We will continue to work with those positive partners who seek to make progress.
Aboriginal Affairs January 28th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, this government has put forward several unprecedented, meaningful measures for Canada's aboriginals. We have built new homes, created new schools and constructed new potable water systems. We have also resolved a number of land claims. Of course, there is still a lot to be done. Nevertheless, we will pursue our agenda in co-operation with positive partners.