Provincial Choice Tax Framework Act  Mr. Speaker, certainly there is a better way to spend those dollars that are being advanced to the provinces to implement the HST. There are many communities, especially first nations communities in northern Ontario, that do not have schools. Some of them still are having some difficulties with their water systems.

Provincial Choice Tax Framework Act  Mr. Speaker, Bill C-62 makes this very clear. We are debating this bill in the House today because it is the responsibility of the federal government at this point to move this forward. The Liberals are the ones to talk because over and over they failed to consult properly with first nations; otherwise, we would not be in this situation.

Provincial Choice Tax Framework Act  Mr. Speaker, I am glad that the climate change bill is finally coming back to the House because the government has not done anything to move it forward. It is coming back to the House but it is not going to be passed in time for the Copenhagen conference. Again the member is trying to mislead the public with regard to the price of gas.

Provincial Choice Tax Framework Act  Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with my colleague from Vancouver Kingsway. I rise to speak against the implementation of the HST by the Conservative government and the rush to push the HST legislation through with the help of the Liberal and Bloc opposition parties. We should really be debating measures that would actually help people.

Provincial Choice Tax Framework Act  Madam Speaker, before I ask a question of my colleague, I want to read a letter from one of my constituents, Carole Lalonde, from Elliot Lake. She says: Hope U are fighting for us NOT to have HST in Ontario. It may help the Ontario gov't, but it sure would NOT help us, the seniors, and lower income people.

Provincial Choice Tax Framework Act  Madam Speaker, I would like to touch again on aboriginals and the HST. The member talks about how this is going to be better and it is the responsibility of the provinces. Yet we are debating this in the House of Commons. Therefore we have a responsibility. I want to read something from one of my first nations chiefs.

Provincial Choice Tax Framework Act  Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my colleague a question. There is obviously nothing in this bill for them. Does he truly believe they will get something? Did they make a deal with the Conservatives? Is that why they are supporting this bill? The Bloc is not a national party and it obviously does not care about the impact of this bill on the most vulnerable.

Disposition of an act to amend the Excise Tax Act  Madam Speaker, with regard to this enabling legislation, there is no consultation, there are no committee hearings and there is no opportunity to hear from consumers. I would like to hear an answer from my colleague with regard to why, although we are supposed to be living in a democratic society, this does not appear to be one.

Disposition of an Act to amend the Excise Tax Act  Madam Speaker, we talked about point of sale throughout the day. I was just wondering if my colleague was aware that the point of sale does not only impact first nations, but it actually impacts farmers as well. Currently farmers in Ontario have to show their farm organization card and they get the point of sale tax rebate right away.

Disposition of an Act to amend the Excise Tax Act  Madam Speaker, the speech my colleague just made is quite impressive and really speaks to the heart of the matter of how people are not very pleased with the HST and how much it is going to cost them. The point of sale issue for aboriginals is extremely important because most aboriginals actually live in poverty and an increase in taxes is not good for them.

Disposition of an Act to amend the Excise Tax Act  Mr. Speaker, earlier today we also talked about the impact on aboriginal communities. First, I want to congratulate the member on his eloquent speech. As I mentioned earlier today, Grand Council Chief from the Anishinabek Nation, Patrick Madahbee, had indicated the impact the implementation of the HST would have within first nation communities.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, today I rise to table a petition that calls for a commission of inquiry into safety aviation. The petitioners are concerned by the fact that Transport Canada is reducing traditional oversight and inspection methods and is delegating its responsibilities to aviation companies via a safety management system.

Tax Harmonization  Mr. Speaker, implementing the HST is a bad idea for consumers, who will have to pay more taxes on everyday goods. The HST is also bad for citizens of northern Ontario, who must travel great distances by car and who will be paying more taxes on gasoline. What is very worrisome is that the aboriginal peoples of Ontario will lose basic rights with the HST.

Poverty  Mr. Speaker, poverty is on the rise. For many, their need has never been greater as we head into the holiday season. Thankfully, there are people on the ground willing to do the hard work needed to help ease the sting of poverty and to make their communities a better place to live.

Disposition of an Act to amend the Excise Tax Act  Mr. Speaker, coming from the North, I still do not understand why the government wants to continue pushing this so quickly without having proper debate on it. Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee stated that it had a population of approximately 52,000 people within 42 first nations communities in Ontario.