House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 78% of the vote.
Tax Harmonization October 27th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, it has been explained here many times. I will have to repeat that the hon. member, instead of standing in this House and voting against every tax reduction that we put forward, should actually go and talk to her premier or to her finance minister in her province because that is their jurisdiction.
Instead of wasting time here, she could be supporting some of our get tough on crime legislation, instead of asking questions like that, that do not even belong in this House.
Petitions October 9th, 2009
Madam Speaker, I would like today to present a petition on behalf of my constituents in the village of Cowley, Alberta.
The post office in that community has been in operation since 1900. It plays a key role in the social and economic life of my constituents by providing the infrastructure that healthy communities need to thrive and that businesses need to grow.
This petition, signed by 110 people, which is actually over 50% of the population of Cowley, requires that the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities maintain the current moratorium on post office closures and consider withdrawing the legislation to legalize remailers.
Tax Harmonization October 9th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, once again, all of the initiatives that we have put forward in reducing taxes and leaving more money in taxpayers' pockets have been fought by the NDP, whose members stand in this House, supposedly proudly, and vote against Canadians, against the home renovation tax credit, which has been incredibly successful across this country.
I would really like to be in the member's shoes when he goes home to his constituents for Thanksgiving weekend and says, “I voted against something that is good for all Canadians”.
Tax Harmonization October 9th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, that is more hypocrisy. In fact, I believe that the NDP voted against an initiative that we put in place to actually provide tax credits to families for their children to participate in sports. It is incredible that he and his party voted against that.
They stand in this House and proclaim to represent their constituents, yet they vote against tax reductions that leave more money in Canadians' pockets.
Tax Harmonization October 9th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, as everyone in this House knows, that is a provincial issue. I would encourage the hon. member, when he goes home this weekend, to talk to members of his own legislative assembly.
There is a certain amount of hypocrisy in those questions because every time we have tried to reduce taxes for Canadians, NDP members have voted against it. The actions that we have taken have left $3,000 in the pockets of ordinary, four-member families. The NDP voted against that every time.
Mr. Speaker, I would remind you and all hon. members that I do speak the truth when I speak in the House and I take offence to anyone suggesting that I do not.
We need to recognize that this government has put forward this initiative. It has been voted for by the Liberals and now we understand that they are not even supporting our government, which put this initiative forward, so I would ask the hon. member to go back to her constituents and suggest to them how she can justify not supporting this.
Our Prime Minister has offered an olive branch to work with the opposition, to ensure that Parliament works. The Liberals stand and oppose that, not on principle but they just stand and oppose everything that this Conservative government is putting forward.
Mr. Speaker, what a disappointing speech that was by the Liberal member. Nowhere in her lengthy speech did she apologize to the auto workers and their families. Nowhere did she say “sorry” to the unemployed men and women across this country, nor did she admit that the Liberals were wrong. She did not admit this to the entrepreneurs, whether small or large, who are the backbone of our economy.
What is even more sad is that the Liberal member does not even know what she and her leader have done wrong. She does not believe that threatening to throw Canada into an unnecessary election only to quench the Liberals' thirst for power is bad and deplorable as well.
She ignores small businesses, as voiced by Canadian Federation of Independent Business president and CEO Catherine Swift, who in a television interview last week pleaded for the Liberal madness to end. She remarked, “All we need is a stupid election to put things right back in the tank. Elections do not produce certainty. I think with the economy turning right now, though, this is a bad time to have an election”.
While the member demands an election and an end to Parliament, she has the audacity to claim to be interested in the Canadian secured credit facility, or as we refer to it, the CSCF. I will give the House an update, not for her but for those Canadians and members who are actually interested in making Parliament work.
The CSCF is an initiative included in Canada's economic action plan designed to support the financing of vehicles and equipment to stimulate private lending. Indications to date are that this objective is being achieved. The cost and availability of funding for vehicle and equipment sales has improved since the CSCF has been made available.
For example, in June, Ford Credit Canada was able to issue $600 million in ABS in the public markets in Canada without using the secured credit facility, the first such asset-backed security issue since 2007. It is reported that Ford also raised more than $3 billion in private placements over the summer months.
On September 16, 2009, GMAC announced that it was expanding its availability of leasing options to include Chrysler vehicles. The revised pricing and enhanced flexibility of the CSCF announced recently will further improve access to financing for the sale of vehicles and equipment, supporting key manufacturers and stimulating Canada's economic recovery.
We continue to monitor access to financing for groups whose financing needs may not be met through the Canadian secured credit facility. We continue to monitor it to get it right. As the Canadian Finance & Leasing Association noted:
This is an evolving process and you want to make sure that taxpayer dollars are protected. This will make the difference between having a strong [securitization] sector in Canada or seeing that sector shrink back dramatically. But we have to get it right and have it work in a way that we will all be pleased.
Finance October 6th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I know everyone is excited. However, we do need to remind Canadians that it is under the leadership of this Prime Minister and the leadership of this finance minister in implementing the Canadian economic action plan that the world has come to notice us. Canadians know that. They envy us. And now the rest of the world has noticed.
In fact, Euromoney magazine heralded our finance ministerfor enhancing our reputation for sound fiscal policy that takes full account of social justice in keeping the financial sector out of--
Finance October 6th, 2009
Mr. Speaker--
Economic Recovery Act (stimulus) October 6th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, my question will be very short, once I get over the fact that the hon. member just said he would oppose this budget implementation bill. One of the most important pieces of the bill is the home renovation tax credit, which he said he supported.
Would he square that circle?