Taxation  For now I ask the questions, Mr. Speaker. Today, the Bank of Canada has downgraded its forecast for economic—

Taxation  Mr. Speaker, today the Bank of Canada has downgraded its forecast for economic growth yet again. Growth is generated first and foremost by a thriving middle class, which makes the decision to hit them with an additional $300 million tax on items ranging from baby carriages to vacuum cleaners all the more damaging.

Taxation  There are still two years left, Mr. Speaker. With their new tax, water heaters will be more expensive, ovens will be more expensive, sheets will be more expensive, saris will be more expensive and bicycles will be more expensive. Even the owner of the bicycle shop where the Minister of Finance held his news conference is complaining that taxes are going up for his clients.

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms  Mr. Speaker, 31 years ago, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms came into being. The charter is more than part of our history; it is part of our life. It guarantees that no matter where one is from, no matter what one believes, no matter what one looks like or who one loves, Canada is a place where we can be who we are freely.

Taxation  Mr. Speaker, I look forward to comparing the Liberal Party's deficits with those of the Conservative Party. The middle class benefits from international trade only when we have clear and coherent policies, yet this latest budget is imposing a hidden tax of over $300 million on basic goods.

Taxation  Mr. Speaker, the government may have reduced tariffs in 2010, only to raise them by over $300 million in budget 2013 on common household items. This sends exactly the wrong signals to our trading partners. In this hopeful, hard-working corner of the House, we believe that trade creates good, middle-class jobs.

Taxation  Mr. Speaker, again today I am going to bring forward an issue that is of great concern to middle-class Canadians. The Conservatives' budget is imposing a new tax of over $300 million a year on goods ranging from scissors to wigs to coffee makers. Since the Prime Minister did not actually answer my question yesterday, I will ask the Minister of Finance.

Taxation  Mr. Speaker, as a result of these new tariffs on imports, middle-class Canadians will have to pay more to buy tricycles, school supplies and children's clothing. How can the government justify this senseless new tax to the millions of Canadians who are struggling to make ends meet?

Taxation  Mr. Speaker, according to Collins English Dictionary, a tariff is “a tax levied by a government on imports”. The Prime Minister can couch this in any terms he likes, but the facts are that when middle-class Canadians go into a store to buy a tricycle, to buy school supplies, to buy a little red wagon for their kids, they will pay more because of a tax in this government's budget.

Taxation  Mr. Speaker, this government lacks judgment on international trade, particularly when it comes to its new $350 million tax on the middle class. Does the government not understand that increasing the price of hundreds of basic necessities will be a huge burden for Canadians who are struggling?

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns  With regard to overseas tax evasion for the period from February 6, 2006 to September 30, 2012: (a) how many Canadians have been identified as having undeclared overseas bank accounts; (b) how many accounts have been identified; (c) how many identified Canadians have availed themselves of the Voluntary Disclosure Program (VDP) with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA); (d) how many identified Canadian accounts have settled with the CRA; (e) how much money has the CRA assessed as a result of investigating these secret overseas bank accounts (i) in unpaid taxes, (ii) in interest, (iii) in fines, (iv) in penalties; (f) how much of the money in (e) has been collected; (g) how many of the cases are under appeal; (h) how many cases remain open; (i) how many more cases does the CRA anticipate will be opened; (j) how many cases have been closed (i.e. the full amount of taxes, interest, fines and penalties has been collected); (k) how much money in (j) has been collected (i) in unpaid taxes, (ii) in interest, (iii) in fines, (iv) in penalties; (l) how many account holders in the cases have made partial payment; (m) of the partial payments made, (i) what was the largest amount, (ii) what was the smallest amount, (iii) what was the average amount; (n) how much does the CRA anticipate it has yet to collect (i) in taxes, (ii) in interest, (iii) in fines, (iv) in penalties; (o) of the amounts of money contained in overseas accounts declared or discovered by CRA (i) what was the largest amount, (ii) what was the smallest amount, (iii) what was the average amount; (p) how many of the identified Canadians with overseas bank accounts (i) have had their account(s) audited, (ii) have had their account(s) reassessed, (iii) have been the subject of a compliance action; (q) how many of the identified Canadians with overseas bank accounts (i) have not had their account(s) audited, (ii) have not had their account(s) reassessed, (iii) have not been the subject of a compliance action; (r) how many tax evasion charges were laid; (s) has the government made any changes to the VDP in the past 24 months; (t) how many Canadians have been convicted of tax evasion; and (u) how many Canadians have been convicted of tax evasion related to money and other assets held overseas?

Intergovernmental Affairs  Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister. Middle-class Canadians have the right to obtain the skills in demand in their local job market in order to succeed. On this side of the House, we are troubled by the news that the government is considering taking the responsibility for training programs away from the regions and communities, which know better than anyone what workers need.

Intergovernmental Affairs  Mr. Speaker, Canadians are worried about their jobs and their MPs who stay silent. It is time the members opposite learned that they were elected by Canadians to represent their views in Ottawa, not the Prime Minister's views in their communities. We know they cannot run effective training in Kamloops or Rimouski from downtown Ottawa.

Intergovernmental Affairs  Mr. Speaker, while this Prime Minister is trying to score cheap political points, Canadians are worried and he is ignoring the fact that even in his own document from this year's report on plans and priorities for HRSDC it states: Since provinces and territories are best placed to determine the mix of employment programming that is required to meet their local and regional labour market needs, Employment Benefits and Support Measures are delivered through transfer Labour Market Development Agreements between Canada and the provinces and territories.

Family Resource Centre  Mr. Speaker, Espace Famille Villeray is a non-profit organization that provides a variety of services and activities for parents-to-be and families with children between the ages of zero and five. Established in 1988 as La Jouthèque de Villeray, it is part of the community fabric of Papineau, which I am proud to represent.