Air Transport  Mr. Speaker, it is reasonable for there to be a set fee, when the cost of security is not a function of the distance flown. As we have said, we are flexible and, in the fall, we will hear representations from those concerned. It is possible that the charge will be reduced, perha

Air Transport  Mr. Speaker, as we have explained several times in the House, users pay perhaps $2.2 billion, but the total cost of the security program is $7.5 billion. We therefore feel it is reasonable for users to pay a portion of these costs, but not all of them. In addition, as we have al

Supply  With all due respect, Mr. Speaker, I do not think the hon. member understands the situation. The government is not taking one additional penny from school boards. It is simply not allowing them to claim a 100% tax reduction. It was always the system of 66% or whatever percentage

Supply  Mr. Speaker, I have noticed modest reductions in credit card interest rates. There was a new credit card introduced by one of the banks in the last few weeks which had an interest rate of prime plus two. There has been a modest amount of progress but this is not to deny that most

Supply  Mr. Speaker, I am most grateful to my hon. colleague for giving me this opportunity and additional air time. In fact I had been on the job less than 24 hours when I made those comments. If we refer to press articles and so on we will see I made no commitment to do anything specif

Supply  Mr. Speaker, to a certain extent I would like to congratulate the NDP for their 12 points. I have read them and I think to some extent all of us can subscribe to some of the principles embodied in those 12 points. I am not saying the NDP is perfect. To some extent they are in wha

Highway Infrastructures  Mr. Speaker, the government will pay off part of the debt as it has done in the past, including $17 billion last year. The interest saved on the reduced debt will be used for these infrastructure projects.

The Economy  Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister has pointed out, these statistics do not tell the full story. The fact of the matter is that this year alone we had $20 billion in tax relief. The fact is that by 2004 income tax will be down by 21% on average, 27% for families. The fact of the

The Economy  Mr. Speaker, Canada has a wonderful economic story to tell in London, New York and around the world. However, the Canadian Alliance, with its spurious statistics, its non-stop negativity and its non-stop trashing of the Canadian economy, it is sad to say, is part of the problem n

Airline Industry  Mr. Speaker, as I have explained several times to the hon. member, over the five year period this is revenue neutral according to the law. We will review it and in the event that it appears the revenue will exceed expenses there is a provision to lower it. Contrary to what the h

Airline Industry  Mr. Speaker, this is similar to the hon. member's previous question in which he said that if something were revenue neutral by law it could be a tax grab. It reminds me of a previous comment he made in the House a few months ago in typical Alliance logic. I quote: The only way w

Pension Plans  Mr. Speaker, as I have said before, the Enron issue is something that the government takes extremely seriously, as was also mentioned by the governor of the Bank of Canada yesterday. Indeed our officials are working actively on this file and consulting with stakeholders to determ

Steel Industry  Mr. Speaker, the government has been in constant consultation with all stakeholders in the steel industry. We are acutely aware of the problems facing the industry owing to certain actions taken in the United States and the possibility of diversion. As soon as we receive a submi

Steel Industry  Mr. Speaker, as I just explained, the government is highly aware of the situation and is in constant touch with the stakeholders in the steel industry. It is very hard for us to make any submission ourselves before we receive the submission from the industry which we have not yet

Ways and Means  Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 83(1) I wish to table a notice of a ways and means motion to amend the Excise Tax Act, as well as explanatory notes, and I ask that an order of the day be designated for consideration of the motion.