Supply  In the finance department again we are looking for transparency. There is an absolute refusal to make a commitment on the question of a carbon tax or taxation of RRSPs. Justice department is an interesting case where there is the opposite of transparency. There is excruciating transparency when dealing with such things as the proposed firearms legislation.

Court Challenges Program  Yet this same level of government is contemplating raising personal taxes, implementing a carbon tax, taxing RRSP contributions and doing little to fight the debt or deficit. Our national debt is rising by $1,743 every second and is now $538,860,511,635.87.

Taxation  Yet through her rather uncharacteristic silence she has implied that even higher gasoline and carbon taxes are possible; she has implied that. My question is for the Minister of the Environment. So that it is very clear to Canadians, will the Minister of the Environment demonstrate her commitment to improving the productivity, as was stated in the paper yesterday, of Canadian business by rejecting any kind of proposed tax grab in the carbon industry?

Department Of Natural Resources Act  Madam Speaker, in spite of the fact that this government continues to tell us that a carbon tax or a green tax is not a consideration, it continues to come up in the news almost daily. Therefore, it continues to be of concern to us who come from those resource producing regions.

Department Of Natural Resources Act  Second, maybe he could confirm the rather strong position taken by the Prime Minister with respect to a carbon tax.

Department Of Natural Resources Act  Our forest resources need protection, development and sustainable development if we are to continue to be a world leader in these things. With respect to a carbon tax I have a few comments. If we adopt green accounting in the resource industries, it might serve the same purpose. It might put in the hands of the captains of industry the kind of techniques, the kind of information that they need in order to make the kind of decisions that will continue to sustain us in the fields of forestry and mining.

Registered Retirement Savings Plan  Speaker, I keep hearing about new taxes from the Reform Party. I do not hear the Minister of Finance discussing new taxes. First I heard of a carbon tax. Now I hear of a tax on RRSPs. All these suggestions of new taxes come from members of the Reform Party and not a single idea on a cut in spending comes from them.

Taxation  Speaker, I do not think that the leader of the Reform Party will be more successful with this trial balloon that he is trying to scare people with than with the so-called carbon tax that he invented, something we were not even talking about. Having nothing else to do, not being able to criticize anything we are doing, he is trying to invent problems. Do not worry, we have enough problems like that.

Supply  In order for Canadian business to remain internationally competitive, the Reform Party believes it would be advisable that Canada not get too far ahead of its major trading partners in issues like greening of national accounts or imposition of green or carbon taxes. In the context of this speech today, this example relates to the potential fracturing of Canada with the separation of the province of Quebec. Obviously the separatist leader had the autonomy and control of Quebec as an objective.

Canada Petroleum Resources Act  Canada is very dependent on revenues generated by the petroleum sector. The imposition of additional taxes such as the rumoured carbon tax could dramatically curtail growth in this sector, throwing many thousands of people out of work. There must be a balance between environmental concerns and jobs for young Canadians.

Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Suspension Act  Yet, for too long western Canada has felt that its interests have not been adequately represented in the federal Parliament. The National Energy Program is just one example and the possibility of a carbon tax implemented at source is another. The Canadian Senate lacks legitimacy in the eyes of many Canadians because it is an appointed body that runs counter to the fundamental Canadian belief that democratic governments should be conducted by an elected rather than an appointed body.

Canada Oil And Gas Operations Act  With respect to discriminatory grants or subsidies, it does not need them, nor does it want them, with new environmental taxes like a carbon tax and wasteful job creation programs. That is my submission on Bill C-6.

The Budget  The government was wise to heed the wishes of Canadians and back off proposals for reducing RRSP contribution levels and for instituting new taxes like a carbon tax. The fact remains that too many Canadians are responding to excessive taxation by going into the underground economy or taking their capital out of the country. Those of us who recognize the seriousness of this problem need to provide taxpayers with some other options.

Taxation  Thousands of customers, investors and workers involved in the production, distribution and consumption of fossil fuels wish to make direct and effect representation to the government to dissuade it from instituting a carbon tax. Is the government willing to receive and respond to these representations prior to finalizing its 1994-95 budget?

Taxation  Mr. Speaker, I must say the first time I heard somebody raise the issue of a carbon tax was when it was raised by the leader of the Reform Party. I would also say that when I was in Calgary I met with groups on that particular issue. I am certainly prepared between now and the date of the budget to meet with other groups.