Stephen Harper

[The Economy, November 27th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the policy of this government has been to gradually balance the budget over the medium term, while not raising taxes, as the NDP would like us to do, and while preserving our payments for vital programs like health care, education and pensions for our senior citizens.

With that approach, Canada has record leading job creation among major developed countries and policies that are highly emulated around the world, one of the reasons I think that somebody like Mr. Carney can be recruited to serve in another country. Canada has a lot to be proud of.

[Intergovernmental Affairs, November 22nd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, precisely what Canadians want from their leaders is not more meetings. They want action, and that is what they will get from this particular government.

That is why we have better growth than most of the developed world, why we have a lower debt, why we have more job creation, why we have a stronger energy sector, why we have poverty coming down, why we have all of the benefits that attract people from around the world to this country.

We have a country to be proud of, a system to be proud of, and as the federal and national government of this country, we take our responsibility seriously.

[Intergovernmental Affairs, November 22nd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I regularly meet with the provincial premiers, and I also meet with other representatives of Canadian society. That is important.

Our philosophy on this side of the House is different. We respect the distribution of powers in Canada's Constitution, we respect the areas under provincial jurisdiction and we act within the limits of our responsibilities. That is one of the reasons for Canada's superior performance.

[Intergovernmental Affairs, November 22nd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I meet extremely regularly with the premiers, not just with the premiers but with business leaders, representatives of civil society and others to make sure that we are moving forward on precisely those fronts.

That is why the Canadian economy, on so many of those things, has a superior record and, in particular, Canada has a much better fiscal position than virtually all of the western developed economies.

There are 800,000 net new jobs. More Canadians are working today than before the recession. We are one of the very few developed countries that have achieved that.

[Government Accountability, November 22nd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, once again, I must set the record straight regarding the government's performance.

The leader of the NDP mentioned things that are simply not the case. Here is the record: 820,000 net new jobs created since July 2009; Canada ranked the most tax-competitive economy among mature markets; Canada's debt to GDP ratio the lowest in the G7; the World Economic Forum rating our banking system the best in the world; all the major rating agencies maintaining Canada's AAA credit rating; the OECD predicting we will lead the G7 in economic growth over the next half-century. That is the record of Canada—

[Intergovernmental Affairs, November 22nd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I meet with Canada's premiers regularly. We are doing our job when it comes to the Canadian economy.

Our initiatives have helped Canada outperform other major developed nations. We plan to continue doing just that. We have created over 800,000 net new jobs since the end of the recession. It is crucial that we continue on that path.

[Intergovernmental Affairs, November 22nd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, unlike the leader of the NDP, I meet with the premiers very regularly. In fact, I had over 50 such meetings in the past year alone. Obviously this government is focused on the economy. We are not focused on a recession. We are focused on making sure the Canadian economy continues to grow.

As we know, despite the global uncertainty, the Canadian economy has relatively good performance among the major developed economies, creating over 800,000 net new jobs since the end of the recession. We are certainly working hard to make sure that growth continues.

[Foreign Investment, November 21st, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately the leader of the Green Party has her facts wrong. As a matter of fact, we have not concluded a foreign investment promotion and protection agreement with the Government of India. We are obviously hopeful that we will do that. It is a commitment that Prime Minister Singh and I made. We will continue to work hard to complete those negotiations. An agreement is not yet completed, but we do have that as our ultimate objective.

[Health, November 21st, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I just answered that question. We must make our decisions based on the legal use of these drugs.

We know that these drugs are sometimes used illegally, and the Minister of Health is prepared to work with the provinces to address this problem.

While I am on my feet, it is incumbent upon me to raise the issue of statements made by another member in the House. I find it shameful, not surprising, that 30 years after the national energy program, these anti-Alberta attitudes are still close to the surface in the Liberal Party.

[Health, November 21st, 2012]

Once again, Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the government can only act in terms of forbidding products based on their legal use and this is a substance that has to be used and prescribed legally and properly.

The problem the member refers to is the illegal use and circulation of these substances. This is a criminal matter and the Minister of Health is prepared to work with the provinces to address those problems.