Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act  Mr. Speaker, the bill is entitled “Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act”. However, to look at one of the underlying statistics that was brought to our attention earlier today by the finance critic of the Liberal Party, back in August 2008, there were 14,631,000 employed and today that has dropped significantly, virtually by half a million, to 14,106,000.

Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act  Mr. Speaker, the member said that “Canadians have spoken, and we will listen”. In the Prairies there was a plebiscite through which wheat farmers sent a very strong message. They were hoping that the government was going to listen to what a vast majority of wheat farmers were saying, which is that they want to retain the Canadian Wheat Board.

Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act  Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Party has talked a great deal on the priority of this session, which is jobs, jobs and jobs. The government has fallen short in coming up with innovative ideas that would materialize those real jobs necessary in our community. My question for my colleague is with regard to housing programs and investing in programs that would improve our housing stocks across the country, particularly in some of our urban centres where there is a need for that.

Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act  That would be lying on your part.

Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act  Mr. Speaker, earlier a Conservative member made reference to the fact that we have a choice between raising taxes or borrowing money. One of the things that is often overlooked is the issue of spending smarter. The Conservative budget is lacking in terms of how we could do a better job with the scarce resources that we have.

Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act  Mr. Speaker, I had one question and now, in listening, I have been inspired to comment on something different. Some of the biggest recognition around the world has been in regard to Canada's banking industry, and there should be no surprise there. We know it was former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and former Minister of Finance Paul Martin who actually established and guaranteed the strong banking industry that we have today here in Canada.

Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act  Madam Speaker, the member talks about the Conservatives voting for it and we all understand why you are voting for this bill. We also need to recognize that what you are voting for is not recognized—

Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act  Madam Speaker, what the member is also voting for is a tax credit that only applies to volunteer firefighters who have the income to take advantage of the tax credit. People need to have the necessary incomes to benefit from the tax credit. That is a bias against a lot of low-income volunteer firefighters.

Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act  Madam Speaker, the member made reference to issues that have come out of her constituency. I want to reflect on one of the issues that came out in my constituency and that is the plight of our seniors. There are far too many seniors in Canada, specifically in my riding of Winnipeg North, who are having a difficult time making ends meet and it is because of the whole issue of pension deficiencies and the need to increase pensions.

Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act  Madam Speaker, Beauchesne's is clear when it states that all members are hon. members. I am sitting in my chair trying to listen to the response that the minister is attempting to give in place of the government House leader when I posed the question to the government House leader.

Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act  Madam Speaker, I find it most interesting that the government House leader introduces a motion in the House and then kind of turns his back to the whole debate on the issue and will not even stand up to answer specific questions. It is very noteworthy that we recognize why it is we are here.

Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act  Madam Speaker, I believe the government House leader was rising on a point of order. I would like to provide comment on the point of order that he raised.

Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act  Madam Speaker, on a point of order. We do govern based on traditions and so forth inside the chamber. I think that we should be concerned when government brings forward legislation and has this natural instinct to bring in some form of closure or limit on debate inside the chamber.

Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act  Madam Speaker, one of the questions that it would be good to get a New Democrat response to is with regard to trade between Canada and the United States. I have posed this question before. The United States is talking a lot about buying American. I am trying to get an understanding of where the New Democrats are on those types of policies.

Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act  Mr. Speaker, the member was talking about the benefits of trade with the United States. Over $1 billion a day is cited. We have President Obama and many other American politicians now promoting and saying “buy American”. At the same time we have a Canadian Prime Minister, though many would suggest a “governor” might be more appropriate, who says not to worry about buy American, we will go ahead with the perimeter security deal and it is no problem as we will affix our signature and allow that to go forward.