Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, the Finance Minister has announced that he established a blind trust for all assets held by him and his family. The minister is working closely with the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner and a trustee to divest all of his family's holdings in Morneau Shepell in an orderly fashion and as soon as practical.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, these changes are not only going to be good for small business, but they are going to be great for small business. They will help grow our economy and help create good middle-class jobs. The opposition knows it and we know it.

Business of Supply  Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do like the word tangent. I also like the fact that the finance minister has announced a number of additional steps, including establishing a blind trust for all assets held by him and his family. He is going above and beyond what is required and above and beyond what we want but he is doing the right thing and I applaud him for that.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time this afternoon with my friend and colleague who I sit with on the Standing Committee on Finance, the member for Hull—Aylmer. Before I begin my formal remarks, I want to discuss the concept of pensions in Canada. I had the pleasure of working in downtown Toronto for a number of years.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, we know that the finance minister has announced a number of steps to address his ownership of shares and so forth. In my riding of Vaughan—Woodbridge, I know that constituents are talking about our cut in the small-business tax rate from 10.5% to nine per cent and what we have done for the middle class through the CCB and our infrastructure program.

Greenpark Group  Mr. Speaker, we all know that home is where the heart is. Today, I recognize a Canadian success story and an incredible organization, the Greenpark Group, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. In 1958, at the age of 19, Carlo Baldassarra immigrated to Canada from Italy full of ambition.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to call the member for the beautiful riding of Brantford—Brant my friend and a colleague in the House. We did serve on the finance committee. We serve our residents as well. When we call into question someone's integrity, we know that individually we all have personal responsibility, and I believe in that.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, with regard to the Minister of Finance, the member for Toronto Centre, we have full confidence in the Ethics Commissioner and her recommendations. Obviously, every member of Parliament is willing to take any further steps to avoid conflicts, or any perception of conflicts, as deemed appropriate by the Ethics Commissioner.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I am sure that any suggestions the hon. member has about strengthening any rules should be brought forward to the pertinent individuals to whom that pertains. I would hope the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands does so. My personal view is that we continue to work hard for all Canadians.

Business of Supply  Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for your explanation. I thank my hon. colleague across the aisle for his intervention as well. I have known the member of Parliament for Toronto Centre, the Minister of Finance, for a few years now. When I think about the integrity and hard work that goes into our careers as politicians and as members of a community, I look to, and I am glad to say that I am friends with and on the same team as, the Minister of Finance.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank the stakeholders in my riding of Vaughan—Woodbridge, who have provided and are providing feedback on the proposed consultation paper, “Tax Planning Using Private Corporations”. I have met with many small and large businesses in my riding, as well as tax experts from leading accounting firms to understand that tax fairness is something our government must pursue and that we do need to consult and listen to our stakeholders to get it right.

Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement  Mr. Speaker, today marks a new, progressive chapter in trade relations between the European Union and Canada. With the preliminary application of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, or CETA, thousands of jobs will be created for the middle class and those working hard to join it.

Export and Import Permits Act  Mr. Speaker, Bill C-47 and Canada's leadership on this issue and coming to the table with international partners not only on this issue but on a number of issues, including climate change, gender parity, and a number of fronts where we are leading the way, is very important. We can be at the table and help end suffering in certain areas of the world where conflict does exist, and a number of mechanisms in the bill will allow us to achieve this goal, which we should pursue on a day-by-day basis.

Export and Import Permits Act  Mr. Speaker, let me walk the member through the process. That is probably the best way I can do it. The process that existed under the Conservatives would remain absolutely unchanged under Bill C-47. First, if someone wishes to purchase a weapon in Italy and then bring it to Canada, the individual must be at least 18 years old and have a possession and acquisition licence, a PAL, with a licence privilege for the classified arm that is being imported.

Export and Import Permits Act  Mr. Speaker, Canada's joining the ATT will allow us to conform to all our other G7 countries and allies. We now will have the right and responsibility to own export controls on conventional arms trade and will create the legal obligation for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, before issuing an export permit or brokering a permit, to undertake assessment criteria.