Bank Fees  The NDP does not want to support our measures such as those to create jobs, but it might listen to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, which had this to say: “Merchants have been well served by the code. It has established fair ground rules and protected the low-cost debit system in Canada.” In other words, we are protecting Canadian consumers.

Business of Supply  The member was part of a government that ran a massive EI surplus. That was a tax on workers and small business. In fact, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business consistently, in every single one of its publications, has pointed out how the government was siphoning money from EI and putting it into general revenues. The member cannot deny that fact.

Finance committee  Thank you, Ms. McLeod. We heard from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business the concerns of a number of different organizations about credit cards and the cost to these individual organizations. So we put together a code of conduct for both the credit and debit card industry, specifically to protect small businesses.

Industry committee  MacMullin, I understand you'll be giving the opening remarks. Is that correct? Okay. From the Canadian Federation of Independent Business is Dan Kelly, the senior vice-president of legislative affairs; and from the Entertainment Software Association of Canada, we have Jason Kee, director of policy and legal affairs.

Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act  The hiring credit for small business is getting high praise from such respected institutions as the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and from the Toronto Board of Trade. It is no surprise to me since I have been getting excellent feedback from small businesses in my community of Mississauga—Brampton South.

Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act  This temporary credit will be available to approximately 525,000 employers, reducing their 2011 payroll costs by about $165 million. Again, I would like to quote the Canadian Federation of Independent Business which told us: This credit will be a major help to small firms in growing their workforce.... This credit will exempt some small employers from having to pay premiums on an increase in their payroll in 2011 over 2010 levels.

Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act  Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters praised our government's focus on more efficient and responsible resource development because it believes our plan will “maximize our economic opportunities while maintaining the right balance between environmental protection and economic growth”. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business gave its approval to reforms to employment insurance that would better assist and encourage Canadians looking for work. Witnesses such as the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association and Consumer Health Products Canada were pleased to see the elimination of bureaucratic red tape that delayed new products already approved by Health Canada from coming to market for years on end.

Business of Supply  The Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters released a report, available online for all to see, confirming lower business taxes mean more jobs. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business unequivocally supports our low tax plan, which its says helps small business. Once again, I am using its words, “unequivocally supports”. Even our American neighbours have noticed it.

Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act  Overall, these changes to employment insurance have been widely welcomed, especially from small business. Indeed, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business said: Since the recession, skills and labour shortages have re-emerged as a major concern for Canada’s small business community. We believe the changes to defining suitable employment, based on how frequently EI is claimed, will help to remove disincentives to work and hopefully make it easier for small firms to find the people they need.

Pooled Registered Pension Plans  A worker who does not opt in initially can opt in later. In fact, Dan Kelly, vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said, in November 2011 in media interviews, that the pooled plans are desperately needed because presently only about 15% of small and medium-sized businesses his company represents offer some form of retirement savings plan for their employees.

Jobs, Growth and Long-Term Prosperity Act  At the finance committee there were nearly 70 hours of hearings and literally hundreds of individuals who spoke to the legislation and its importance, for example, groups like the Canadian Federation of Independent Business that called economic action plan 2012 “positive news for small business”. Coming out of the global recession, Canada finds itself on remarkably stable footing. We have relatively low debt levels as compared to other industrialized nations and a plan to eliminate the federal deficit.

Jobs, Growth and Long-Term Prosperity Act  The estimated savings from eliminating the penny will be about $11 million a year, helping us to meet our reduction targets and save Canadians money. In the words of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business: It has been a long time coming. It’s been a real pain more than anything else. We’ve actually polled our members on this and they’re supportive. Another example of how we are managing taxpayer dollars responsibly is our recent treatment of the Governor General's salary.

Pooled Registered Pension Plans Act  The new voluntary low-cost and administratively simple retirement savings mechanism would allow more employers and employees and those who are self-employed to participate in a pension plan. Who would not wish for that to happen? Dan Kelly, from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business agrees and wants it to happen. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce stated that this legislation: ...introduced...has the potential to benefit the estimated 60 per cent of Canadians who have either no, or insufficient, retirement savings.

Pooled Registered Pension Plans Act  In the case of small and medium-sized business owners, it would act as a payroll tax, and that is a tax on job creators. Members need not take my word for it. Let us hear what the Canadian Federation of Independent Business had to say. According to its research, “to double CPP benefits would kill 1.2 million person-years of employment in the short term”. Only the NDP would propose something so reckless.

Pooled Registered Pension Plans Act  I will share with hon. members some of the feedback following our broadly based consultation. According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business: A new voluntary, low-cost...retirement savings mechanism will allow more employers, employees, and the self-employed to participate in a pension plan.... The Canadian Taxpayers Federation comments: Canadians will be able to save more for retirement with this new pension plan.