Seniors  For someone who earns $60,000 a year, that is an extra $1,000 tax hike. While we are letting middle-class Canadians keep more of their money in their pockets, that party would take more out.

Finance committee  One of your statements was, “I would be inclined to instead consider an increase in the Canada child tax benefit to provide more benefits for low-income and middle-class Canadians while reducing or negating benefits for those whose income exceeds a certain threshold.” How do you respond to Mr. Cross's analysis, which says that the progressivity of transfer payments and taxes has led to a situation whereby the top two quintiles are putting more in than they're certainly getting out, and the bottom three are certainly receiving more benefits than they pay in taxation.

Finance committee  I would be inclined to instead consider an increase in the Canada child tax benefit to provide more benefits for low-income and middle-class Canadians while reducing or negating benefits for those whose income exceeds a certain threshold. This could be done by instead cancelling the universal child care benefit and using the resulting savings to enhance proportionately the Canada child tax benefits for those whose income is below a certain threshold.

Taxation  Building on our record of creating options for Canadians to save, like the tax-free savings account, I am pleased to inform the House that we are open to giving Canadians the option to voluntarily contribute more to the Canada pension plan to supplement their current CPP retirement savings. What we will not do is reach into the pockets of middle-class Canadians with a mandatory payroll tax like the Liberals and NDP would do.

Business of Supply  I could continue for hours on why job creation is our government's main focus. However, as long as there are middle-class Canadians looking for work, our job is not yet done. Economic action plan 2015 is the next part of our long-term plan to ensure we get Canadians back to work and continue Canada's economic growth and prosperity.

Business of Supply  I know that is what many Canadian families are concerned about, and let us make no mistake: high debt and high deficits now will saddle future generations with an even greater burden. This government understands the importance of middle-class Canadians and their future, and as our actions have shown, we listened and worked diligently to ensure that Canada's middle class is among the richest in the developed world. Needless to say, we will continue this trend and look for more ways to help the middle class thrive and contribute to the Canadian economy.

Business of Supply  Responsible fiscal management and firm control over direct program spending put Canada on a predictable path back to a balanced budget by 2015, providing consumers and businesses with the confidence to invest and grow the economy. As the The New York Times recently reported, after-tax income for middle-class Canadians, substantially behind in 2000, now appears to be higher than in the United States. In fact, the Canadian middle class is among the richest in the developed world. Bloomberg has ranked Canada as the second-most attractive place in the world to do business.

Business of Supply  Our government does not believe in forcing Canadians into a single, compulsory, one-size-fits-all approach, nor do we believe in reaching into the pockets of hard-working, middle-class Canadians and reducing their take-home pay. On the contrary, we will continue to put money into the pockets of seniors and all Canadians. With our low-tax plan in place, we have established a rock solid foundation upon which Canadians can achieve their retirement goals with confidence.

Yukon and Nunavut Regulatory Improvement Act  The Liberal Party of Canada believes that a sustainably developed resource sector is essential to the success of our economy and, if we get it right, will serve as an important foundation for future economic growth and job creation for middle-class Canadians. Our party supports developing resources in the north in a sustainable manner. Unlike the Conservatives, we recognize that unlocking this economic engine is contingent on environmental sustainability and on impacted aboriginal communities being treated as equal partners.

Taxation  The Liberal leader talks about being fair, but the other day he said, “Benefiting every single family is not what is fair”. What is not fair is hiking taxes on millions of middle-class Canadians, small businesses and seniors. Canadians are smart enough not to be fooled by that and to stick with the benefits that they are actually now receiving in their pockets that were introduced by our government to help the middle class.

Economic Action Plan 2015 Act, No. 1  We will present to Canadians a plan for jobs and growth, investing in infrastructure, investing in people and skills for the jobs of today and the jobs of tomorrow. Our priority is clear, we must strengthen those at the heart of our economy, middle-class Canadians who have not had a decent raise in 30 years. We cannot have a sustained long-term economic recovery without a strong middle class. Liberals will continue to present solutions to grow our economy and to help Canada's struggling middle class.

Economic Action Plan 2015 Act, No. 1  For the Conservatives, it was not an opportunity to help people who really need help and middle-class Canadian families. It was an opportunity to give presents to their wealthy friends instead of helping those most in need. Despite the warnings of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, many opposition MPs and various experts, the Conservatives are moving forward with their ill-advised income splitting regime, which will obviously help just 15% of the richest Canadian families and not those who really need help.

Economic Action Plan 2015 Act, No. 1  Middle-class families often have children about to enter university. They need money to pay for tuition. We note that many middle-class Canadians have a great deal of debt. If they were to find themselves with some disposable income, would it be more attractive for them to invest in an education savings plan? As we know, the return is quite high.

Taxation  The leader of the Liberal Party, who thinks budgets balance themselves, is clearly out of touch with the priorities of middle-class Canadians. Fortunately, our Conservative government has and will continue to deliver a balanced budget and tax relief for all Canadians.

Taxation  Speaker, it should come as no surprise that our Conservative government is the only one that stands up for middle class Canadian families. Through our low tax plan for families, our government is helping 100% of families with children receive the benefits they need. All families with children will benefit from our family tax cut and enhanced universal child care benefit.