Stephen Harper

[Employment, February 25th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, there are not going to be very many people in Alberta, or elsewhere, who see the irony of the leader of the NDP talking about people who are employed in Fort McMurray, because if the NDP ever had its way, with its policies, those jobs would be gone overnight. He even goes to Washington to lobby against those jobs. It is because of our government that those jobs are protected.

[The Economy, February 25th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the NDP leader quoted facts that are not accurate. He is talking about events that took place decades ago.

The reality is that Statistics Canada said today that the net worth of Canadian families since 2005 is up by 44.5% and indeed the biggest gains have been in the middle class.

[Small Business, February 25th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, of course the Leader of the Opposition raises an issue, a particular policy that he has voted against multiple times.

We were very clear that it was a time-limited policy. We have now frozen increases to EI premiums. Those will be falling in the future.

What small businesses said very clearly to the NDP is they do not agree with the NDP's plans for tax hikes of their CPP premiums. We will stand with small business.

[Taxation, February 25th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, this government is clear.

We will look at tax cuts for Canadian families when the budget is balanced. This party understands that a budget does not balance itself.

Income splitting was a good policy for Canadian seniors and it will be a good policy for Canadian families.

[Taxation, February 25th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I was not the one who raised the subject.

The reality, of course, is this is the party that brought in the universal child care benefit and a series of tax reduction measures for families, for things like fitness and artistic activities. We look forward to further tax reductions for Canadians.

[Taxation, February 25th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I do not recall ever having to leave one of my conventions through the back door.

[Taxation, February 25th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as we have said, we will look at tax reductions for families when we actually have the budget balanced. This party on this side understands, unlike him, that the budget does not balance itself.

I am glad to see, though, that the Liberal Party is interested. I got confused over the weekend. I am pleased to see that the Liberal Party is interested in tax reductions for families. That would be a big change.

[Democratic Reform, February 25th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I have already mentioned the fact that the NDP was forced to pay back $350,000 in illegal union donations.

Obviously, in terms of vouching we do not have addresses in these cases and that kind of information cannot be verified. The Neufeld report has said that some 25% of these cases lead to possible irregularities, and that is why we are instead providing a wide range of ID that can satisfy the elections process and make sure that voters have the right to vote.

[Democratic Reform, February 25th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the government is not responsible for investigating. Independent agencies were created to do that.

I should point out for the record that the NDP was forced to reimburse nearly $350,000 of its election expenses.

[Democratic Reform, February 25th, 2014]

Obviously, Mr. Speaker, that is a matter most appropriately directed to investigators.

This particular legislation would make sure that all tools are available to investigators and that the investigative function is independent and is able to ensure the integrity of elections.