Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, I have the privilege of sitting on the Standing Committee on Finance. I was the MP who brought forward the motion for us to study the goings-on with respect to tax evasion and tax avoidance in relation to the Isle of Man. Therefore, this is an issue that is of paramount concern for us, for me and our government, to ensure that all organizations and individuals are paying their fair share of taxes, that our social programs are being supported and fully funded, and that all Canadians contribute to our economy and the betterment of our society.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to speak to the important issue of tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance brought forward by my colleague the member for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie. I will be splitting my time this morning with my friend and colleague the member for Brampton East. First, let me state unequivocally that the Government of Canada is committed to combatting international tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance.

Rare Disease Day  Mr. Speaker, February 28 marks Rare Disease Day, a day celebrated internationally to bring awareness about the impacts of rare diseases on sufferers and their families. In Canada, rare diseases affect approximately one in 12 people, or three million Canadians. Rare Disease Day holds significance for my family.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, the framework and approach the Government of Canada has taken is to sit down and work with the provinces and territories to come up with a pan-Canadian framework. Each province and territory has a different electricity generation mix, a different consumption mix. We have said to the provinces and territories that we will work with them and come to an agreement.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, we have introduced what is called the Canada child benefit. This year alone it will put over $4.5 billion of incremental new investment in the pockets of Canadian families, versus the old program under the previous government. That works out to approximately $2,300 more, on average, per family.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, I would actually recommend that the member look at the Government of Canada website. I would be more than happy to send her the link to the economic analysis of the pan-Canadian framework, which is actually published on the Government of Canada website. I would add that globally there are economies that have embraced pricing mechanisms and renewable energy.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, I will be splitting my time with my hon. colleague from LaSalle—Émard—Verdun. It is with great pride and privilege that I stand to speak today to something that is important for the future of Canada, for the future of our economy, for growing the economy, and as we say, for strengthening our middle class and those hoping to join it.

Infrastructure  Mr. Speaker, earlier this month I had the chance to announce the start of construction of a new inter-regional transit terminal in the city of Vaughan. The Minister of Infrastructure and Communities has been advocating strongly for infrastructure investments that will grow the middle class and make a real difference day to day for families.

Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement Implementation Act  Mr. Speaker, I grew up on the northern coast. Approximately 50% of the population in the city I grew up in were indigenous. I know many of the issues that have affected the community, and I have many friends from that community. When it comes to trade deals, in my personal opinion, it is very simple.

Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement Implementation Act  Mr. Speaker, the member can look at our government's actions in terms of promoting trade and investment to Canada with the recent appointment of the new ambassador, our former hon. colleague. He can look at our government's commitment to grow trade, whether on a large multilateral basis or on a bilateral basis.

Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement Implementation Act  Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise to speak to Bill C-30 for the second time now. It is a great event when we can implement a progressive trade agenda between Canada and our second largest trading partner, the European Union. It gives me great pleasure as the chair of the Canada-Italy Interparliamentary Group, as an Italian citizen, a European citizen, as well as a Canadian citizen to say that our two communities are working together.

Vaughan African Canadian Association  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Black History Month. It has been more than 20 years since the Parliament of Canada proclaimed February to celebrate the many men and women of African and Caribbean descent who helped shape the social, cultural, and economic fabric of our country.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, was it the right thing for our government to introduce the Canada child benefit, which will see approximately $9 billion of net new money flow to families across Canada? Was it the right thing for us to cut taxes for middle-class Canadians, which will benefit nine million Canadians over a five-year period and provide $20 billion of tax relief?

Committees of the House  Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 12th report of the Standing Committee on Finance in relation to Bill S-4, an act to implement a convention and an arrangement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and to amend an act in respect of a similar agreement.

Tax Convention and Arrangement Implementation Act, 2016  Madam Speaker, parts 1 and 2 of Bill S-4 include provisions dealing with the issues my hon. colleague mentioned: part 1 deals with Israel, and part 2, Taiwan. I sit on the Standing Committee on Finance and I am proud to state that I was a member of the committee when it presented a motion on tax avoidance and tax evasion so the committee could to examine those issues.