Resumption of debate on Address in Reply  Earlier, I was surprised to hear the hon. member from Prince Edward Island say that the primary duty of any government is to take care of the most vulnerable and least fortunate, when the Liberals' tax cut for the middle class does absolutely nothing for people earning less than $45,000 a year. They are the ones who need help the most. Will the hon. member for Louis-Saint-Laurent support the NPD proposal to shift the Liberal Party's tax cut to the first tax bracket?

Resumption of debate on Address in Reply  We both have had the opportunity to spend a number of years before we arrived here in municipal politics or some other political field, and I thank my colleague for her service. The member stated that everything in the throne speech focused on the middle class, or the middle income group as I like to call it, which in Canada right now is the wealthiest it has ever been. Agriculture is one of the largest industries in this country. I do understand that there is likely not a lot of agriculture in that member's riding.

International Trade  Speaker, our government supports free trade and we understand the importance of international trade for economic growth and prosperity for the middle class. Regarding the TPP, we are committed to ensuring full transparency and having a full debate in Parliament. We will stand up for Canadian farmers. My colleague, the Minister of Agriculture, and I have already met with farmers on this matter.

International Trade  Speaker, our government supports free trade so strongly, I could not wait to answer that question. We understand how important it is for middle-class prosperity. We also understand that on a deal this big, it is essential to consult Canadians and have a full parliamentary debate. I must say to my hon. colleague that he is a little mistaken on the facts when he suggests that we could be signing the deal now.

Finance  Speaker, what we can tell the House today is that we are starting our program to help Canadians. Today is the day we have said we are going to reduce middle-class taxes by asking those Canadians who are doing very well to pay a little bit more. This is an important first start in our tax program, a program that will make Canada a fairer place for Canadians and a better place for all of us to do business.

Finance  However, those who earn between $89,000 and $200,000 will receive the maximum tax cut. Does the minister believe that people who earn a median income are not part of the middle class or will he agree to work with the NDP in order to ensure that 90% of the population gets something out of this?

Finance  It will raise 315,000 children out of poverty. We know that we can start with a tax cut for Canadians in the middle class so that they will have more money to help our economy, and then we can move forward with other initiatives that will help other Canadians even more.

Finance  Speaker, I think this will be fun. Today we are starting with a very important part of our plan, and that is middle-class tax breaks, which is a key part of our initiative to help Canadians.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  In closing, the throne speech presents a vision for Canada that brings Canadians together, invests in the middle class, seeks to grow the economy by investing in our infrastructure, respects official languages, and will rely on fact-based decision-making. I look forward to working with all of my colleagues from the two sides of the House.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, frankly I despise that term “middle class”, but we will use it since it is a term that the government wants to use. However, a tax cut for middle-income folks is hardly of value if they do not have a job. That is one of the issues we have in Alberta today.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  I also want to say that investing in Canadians is about creating a lot of opportunity for them: the opportunity for skills and training; the opportunity to get a post-secondary education; the opportunity to be on an equal footing. The tax cuts for the middle class would help Canadians. However, the other piece we need to talk about is access to health care. That is investing in Canadians. Healthy people work, they produce. When they produce, Canada gains by their production and by the ability to be competitive in a global economy.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Would the Prime Minister share with this House his thoughts about the importance of the cut for middle-class Canadians and why is it he feels inspired that is the right way to go, from this point forward?

Speech from the Throne  Our government was given a clear mandate to invest in our country, and that we plan to do. We will be decreasing taxes for the middle class, and we will also be open and transparent with our spending. In the weeks to come we will see the budget unfold and members will have answers to some of those questions, but taxes will be decreased.

Speech from the Throne  Speaker, Canadians want a government that keeps its promises and focuses on what is most important: growing the economy, creating jobs, strengthening the middle class, and helping those working hard to join it. I have three priorities in my riding: regional economic renewal, regional economic renewal, and regional economic renewal.