Finance committee  We have a situation, and I think it's acknowledged around the world but it is in fact in Canada too, that income inequity is on the rise. I think the phenomena we've seen in the last 10 months to a year, the occupation groups in the U.S. and in Canada, represent the communities' sense of it. Whether they're right or wrong, we can argue and we can debate that, but there's a very real situation happening, and we need to understand for better or for worse why it's happening.

Petitions  The petitioners are concerned that the planned delay of retirement benefits, old age security and the guaranteed income supplement, will create hardship for those in our society who have the least now and that it will increase income inequality. Single women will be disproportionately impacted. In fact, over 40% of old age security recipients earn less than $20,000 a year in retirement. They will be forced to work for two more years or to seek alternative benefits, which would load more costs onto the province.

Finance committee  I'd appreciate your views on whether or not we could learn quite a bit from Germany in terms of human resource development. Even in terms of things like income inequality, Germany does not have as much of a gap in terms of incomes as we do in Canada, for instance. Could you briefly opine on that? But briefly, because I have some other questions as well

Finance committee  Fifty-three per cent make less than $25,000. Will the changes to OAS potentially exacerbate the issue of income inequality and poverty in Canada?

Finance committee  At best, they limit economic growth and deprive individuals of the life chances they deserve. It seems prudent to examine two elements of this budget in light of the fact that income inequality in Canada is rising fast. The changes to old age security and to employment insurance could well contribute to further widening the gap between men and women, between young and old, and between rich and poor.

Business of Supply  It would seem that a good start for the government would actually be to support Bill C-233, my bill on income inequality, which lays out a strategy for national poverty reduction in this country. The NDP does have good concrete ideas on how to tackle some of these problems. I want to switch now, in my brief few minutes left, to talk about national childcare and early learning.

Jobs, Growth and Long-Term Prosperity Act  Tragically, in its efforts to sell this so-called OAS crisis, the feds have found some seductive words to try to persuade young workers and make them believe that making matters worse for them in retirement is somehow a fairness issue. Talk about the big lie. The current generation is not just being squeezed by income inequality, but will also face declining retirement security in their senior years. Quality pension plans are under attack in both the public and private sectors. Only one-third of Canadian adults can afford RRSPs.

Hunger Awareness Week  Let us bring the plight of hungry Canadians into the open. Let us work to reduce the income inequality that shamefully continues to rise in Canada. Let us work to put food banks out of business. In the meanwhile, I ask all Canadians to join me during Hunger Awareness Week and consider donating food, money or time to help reduce hunger in our communities.

Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act  However, the fact remains that removing $30,000 from the available income for the necessities of life for people who are disabled or who have no other source of income is a huge injustice that will only further increase income inequality in Canada.

Finance committee  I hope that in our deliberations, colleagues, we consider that, for instance, somebody who runs a food bank or a group of food banks probably understands issues around poverty and income inequality and the issues around front-line services. Somebody involved in a hospital foundation probably has some opinions on health care. This isn't political—

Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act  I would like to use my time to address four themes: namely how the Conservatives are, one, hiding the full impact of their spending cuts; two, breaking their election promise to protect old age security; three, using budget 2012 to ram through important changes to Canada that are unrelated to budgets; and four, failing to create good paying jobs and recognize the important issue of growing income inequality in Canada. Later on in this debate, my colleague from the riding of Etobicoke North, the Liberal critic for the environment, will speak on how the Conservatives are using this budget bill to completely rewrite Canada's environmental laws.

Criminal Code  Yet this would involve, and this is the core of my remarks here this evening, addressing the underlying causes and concerns relating to gang crime: housing, poverty, income inequality, employment, minority inclusion and access to education, and an understanding of why young people join gangs. There are no young people in Canada contemplating gang life because they believe there is no offence against it or their recruitment in the Criminal Code.

Study on Income Inequality  Order. I am sorry to interrupt the hon. member, but the time provided for the consideration of private members' business has now expired. He will have about four and a half minutes left when this motion reappears on the order paper. The order is now dropped to the bottom of the order of precedence on the order paper.

Study on Income Inequality  Madam Speaker, I appreciate the question very much. Given the level of poverty in Canada, it is clear that now is not the time to be withdrawing resources from groups that are looking for solutions and ways to reduce poverty. I do not understand why the government has cut funding from such programs.

Study on Income Inequality  Madam Speaker, one must wonder whether the hypocrisy of the Liberal Party really knows no bounds. It was just a few years ago that our government introduced the child tax benefit to benefit and improve the lives of single moms who are underprivileged. Members will remember that it was a senior member of and senior adviser to the hon. member's party who said that they would use it to buy beer and popcorn.