House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2019, with 50% of the vote.
Business of Supply May 28th, 2008
Mr. Chair, the minister has just enlightened me. He has pointed out that before the measure introduced in the 2008 budget, Canadians were penalized for saving. Savings were taxed. Now, I understand that there is the tax free savings account. A tax measure exists now so that the average Canadian can set money aside, money that will be sheltered from taxes.
I would like to know how the minister thinks this measure will encourage Canadians to save more.
Business of Supply May 28th, 2008
Mr. Chair, I have another question for my hon. colleague and I would like to hear his comments.
The Canadian Bankers Association spoke about tax reductions in the order of $200 billion. That is historic. We have never had tax cuts of this magnitude in this country. We are talking about $140 billion in personal income taxes and $60 billion in tax cuts for manufacturers.
The Canadian Bankers Association stated that these tax cuts will not go unnoticed in global markets and that they will position Canada as a place to invest, do business, live and work and that this measure will benefit all Canadians.
I would like to know if this vision of economic prosperity is in keeping with the minister's vision and the Advantage Canada plan?
Business of Supply May 28th, 2008
Mr. Chair, I wanted my colleagues to react. However, some facts remain. We lowered taxes and the economy is actually performing quite well. I would just like to point out that, in Quebec, more than 150,000 jobs have been created since the minister was appointed.
We must also acknowledge that it is due to our long-term vision for the Canadian economy, which applies to every budget. There is another important element: the current corporate tax rate is one of the most competitive among the G-7 countries.
Our minister is doing remarkable work to ensure that our manufacturing sector is at the leading edge. For example, we have Exceldor in Saint-Anselme, Prévost Car in Sainte-Claire and Rotobec in Sainte-Justine, which benefit from tax breaks put in place by our government. In addition, we also reduced the GST.
I could go on at length. Even organizations such as the United Way in Toronto acknowledge that this budget helps the most disadvantaged over the welfare wall. Our budget covers a broad spectrum but it focuses on several sectors in order to better position the Canadian economy.
My questions are for the minister. How will he continue this development? Furthermore, why does he believe it was so important to keep the promises about tax cuts, which he knows stimulate the Canadian economy?
Business of Supply May 28th, 2008
Absolutely not, Mr. Chair, quite the opposite.
Business of Supply May 28th, 2008
Mr. Chair, I am pleased to join my parliamentary colleagues this evening to participate in the work of the committee of the whole on the Canadian government's main estimates.
This evening, it is not the main estimates we should be talking about. Since the Conservative government has been here in Ottawa, we could talk about the main investments in the economy and in Canadian taxpayers. There is investment in agriculture, investment for pork producers and dairy producers, investment in the environment, in budget 2008 in particular, to create a carbon exchange to make our country a world leader in fighting climate change. There is also investment in education, but especially for future generations by reducing the debt. That is the real sustainable development our Minister of Finance is creating for our country.
Thanks to the remarkable work of my colleague, the hon. Minister of Finance, the hon. member for Whitby—Oshawa, the Canadian economy is improving and growing and taxpayers are finally seeing their taxes go down instead of up. This is true both for individuals and businesses.
The results of all this are clear. Over the past 12 months alone, we have seen the creation of over 300,000 jobs. Since we came to power, 750,000 jobs have been created, 80% of them full time. These are jobs for people across the country. This contrasts with and is diametrically opposed to what our colleagues opposite want to see. Their problem is that they think government money is their money. On this side of the House, we think that government money belongs to taxpayers and should go back to them.
My question for my colleague, the Minister of Finance, is a simple one. How has he managed to stimulate the economy and reduce the tax burden on companies and taxpayers?
I would like to revisit one important element. The official opposition has come up with a proposal that worries me. The price of gas is higher than ever before. It is as high as $1.50 in some places. This is a big problem for people in my riding who commute to work.
My riding is far from urban centres. To move manufactured goods, we need a healthy economy, we need lower transportation costs, and we need the government to make sure that transportation costs do not go up. Now the official opposition wants to tax carbon and increase the cost of raw materials and the cost of transportation, even though these costs are already extremely high.
That worries me. I would like to know what the minister plans to do to protect us from these rising costs, these huge increases that will take a heavy toll on the Canadian economy. We know that these tax grabs affect not just businesses but people with low incomes, society's most vulnerable members and seniors. That is inconceivable in the current context, where even though we have an economy running at full throttle, we are also facing certain challenges.
The Liberal leader's own MPs think his plan is a bad one.
The Toronto Star reported:
Liberal MPs say one of their chief concerns is the bruising impact that higher energy taxes would have on the pocketbooks of middle-class and low- income Canadians already grappling with skyrocketing gas prices.
That was well put. Even the New Democrats recognize that it would harm businesses, families and people with low incomes. But there is one thing. Those two parties voted against—
Committees of the House May 16th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Official Languages.
This report is related to the committee's study on access to justice.
“Your Canada in 2050” Contest May 13th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, what will Canada be like in 2050? What policies would improve our society so that it reflects our highest aspirations?
Young people in Lévis, Bellechasse and Les Etchemins entered the “Ton Canada en 2050” contest and answered these fascinating questions.
The members of the jury were impressed by the creativity and energy of these secondary students and the teachers who got involved.
Today, we welcome to the Hill more than 70 students from École Marcelle-Mallette in Lévis who entered the contest. They include Clara Turcotte, whose entry focuses on social commitment, Justine Bernier-Blanchette, who talks about research and development, and Josée Turmel, who wants to eliminate the use of plastic bags.
I want to congratulate all of the students and thank them for taking part in the contest. I am very proud of them. With young people like them, who may one day take our place, Canada is in good hands.
Business of Supply May 7th, 2008
Question.
Business of Supply May 7th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Honoré—Mercier for his interest in local and regional news throughout Quebec. In the Quebec City and Chaudière-Appalaches regions, TQS offers a much appreciated newscast.
The CRTC is a quasi-judicial tribunal. Of course, it may be tempting sometimes for Parliament or the government to interfere. We know however that, in 1994, a former Liberal minister interfered with the CRTC's decision-making process and had to resign. On that subject, the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien used to say that a minister must not interfere with or exert any kind of pressure on independent agencies such as the CRTC. It is as if the Minister of Justice dictated to the Supreme Court what its decisions should be.
With that in mind, I would like to ask a question of my colleague. Seeing that the minister, the government and Parliament must respect the CRTC's independence, how does he see the role of Parliament and of the government in order to avoid any interference on their part with an independent agency?
Liberal Party of Canada May 6th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, once again, the Liberals have missed a perfect opportunity to keep quiet. Recently, the former executive director of the Quebec wing of the Liberal Party of Canada was arrested and charged with fraud. The old sponsorship scandal ghosts continue to haunt them and remind us of that party's dubious ethical practices.
However, the Liberals keep spewing invective and pretending that they are indignant at the Conservative government's actions. They are trying to teach us all a lesson, but they seem to have forgotten that they wasted Canadian taxpayers' money on bogus contracts and partisan advertising. What happened to the $40 million that came from Canadian taxpayers' wallets?
The official opposition is having a hard time hiding its inaction and its many scandals. The Liberals are just sitting on their hands, while we are taking vigorous, transparent action on behalf of all of the people of Canada.