Budget 2007 Speech
Speech
in the House of Commons (Check Against Delivery)
March 27.2007
Mr.
Speaker I’m please to rise to speak to Budget 2007.
In particular,
I want to focus on what this budget means, and what our Conservative
Government has meant, for my constituents and all British
Columbians.
On January 23rd,
2006 Canadians elected a new Conservative Government, and we have
delivered real results for British Columbians. We are a minority
government in this Parliament with ten fewer seats than the recent
Liberal minority government, and we have fewer than one-in-four
seats in the Senate, and historically minority governments have had
limited success in achieving their goals.
Our government,
on the other hand, is getting things done for hard working
Canadians. Actually we have done more in 14 months to create a more
rewarding future for British Columbians and their families than our
predecessors did in 13 years.
Let’s just
looks at the facts.
We signed a
seven-year softwood lumber agreement that will provide market
stability in B.C.’s largest industry. The agreement will return $5
billion in illegal duties to Canada. The agreement was supported by
B.C. industry, supported by all the softwood-producing provinces of
Canada including the Government of British Columbia, supported by
all Conservative MPs, but
opposed by the Liberals and the NDP.
We have
supported the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. When the
Government of B.C. and the 2010 Olympic Organizing Committee asked
for an additional $55 million, on top the hundreds of millions the
federal government is already proudly providing the 2010 Games, we
delivered.
Our
Conservative Government has delivered record tax relief for British
Columbians in our two budgets. We’ve cut the GST to 6%, cut small
business taxes, provided an annual $1,200 per child universal
childcare allowance, created a $2,000 per child tax credit, made the
largest debt pay-down in Canadian history ($22 billion over 2
years), allowed pension splitting for seniors, and we created a $500
per child amateur sport tax credit – which is an idea, I’m proud to
report to Parliament, that was brought forward by Port Moody
resident Sharon Mack.
In the last
election campaign Conservatives promised $1 billion over 10 years to
address the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation in B.C. We are
delivering on this commitment, and we are doing so ahead of schedule
with $200 million committed in our first budget alone. It should be
noted, that neither the Liberal Party of Canada, nor the NDP, have
ever presented a plan or made any commitments on the Mountain Pine
Beetle issue, while Conservatives have honoured the promise we
made.
Our government
has also supported B.C.’s environment. When asked to contribute to
the clean-up of Stanley Park after the devastating wind storms, we
immediately responded with $2 million in assistance. We have also
contributed $199.3 million towards the B.C. Government’s environment
agenda through our own ecoTrust initiative. We have reversed
federal Liberal cuts and hired more fish habitat and conservation
officers for B.C. We have also invested $30 million towards B.C.’s
Spirit Bear Rainforest – the largest intact temperate rainforest
left on earth.
We have also
supported B.C.’s infrastructure needs. We promised to support the
Asia-Pacific Gateway in the election campaign, and we have kept our
promise in Government with a commitment of $1 billion towards this
key initiative. We are increasing the GST rebate for municipalities
from 57.1% to 100% which will mean millions more for local
infrastructure. For commuters in B.C. using public transit, whether
it is our bus system, SkyTrain or West Coast Express, monthly
transit passes are tax deductible. We have invested millions into
the Prince George and Cranbrook airports, and we followed through on
$450 million for the Canada Line rapid transit extension that links
downtown Vancouver to the Vancouver International Airport in
Richmond. While the Liberals were in government they ended federal
support for dredging on the Fraser River. Our Conservative
government has invested $4 million for dredging over two years.
British
Columbians value our cultural diversity, and our Conservative
Government has taken action to bring our diverse province together
by addressing past wrongs. We have offered a historic apology and
redress for the racist Chinese head tax. While in power the
Liberals refused to launch an inquiry into one of the worst
terrorist attacks in our history, the bombing of Air India flight
182, which saw the murder of 329 Canadians. We have taken action,
and launched the Air India Inquiry.
For B.C.’s
First Nations, after 13 years of no progress and hundreds of
millions wasted on lawyers in failed negotiations under the
Liberals, our Conservative Government has reached historic treaty
agreements with three B.C. First Nations: the Lheidli T’enneh in the
north, the Maa-nulth First Nations on Vancouver Island, and the
Tswwassen Band in the lower mainland. We also signed a new
education agreement for B.C. First Nations, and we addressed a
tragedy of our past by putting in place the Indian Residential
Schools Settlement Agreement.
Our
Conservative Government is also working to improve public safety and
enact justice reform. In Budget 2007 we committed $324 million for
six new Coast Guard vessels, 3 of which will be on the west coast.
We have passed tough new laws against street racing, made
investments to hire more police officers and hired more border
guards. We have allocated $9.9 million to TransLink to improve
security on public transit, particularly on SkyTrain which has seen
some appalling violence that must be stopped. We have legislation
to end house arrest for dangerous offenders, enact mandatory minimum
sentences for gun crimes, and protect children from sexual abuse,
but the Liberals and the NDP are preventing these bills from
becoming law. Criminal justice reforms are crucial to the future
health of B.C. residents, and only the Conservative Party of Canada
is taking the need to be tough on crime seriously in the Parliament
of Canada.
In just over a
year in office, our Prime Minister and our Conservative Government
have brought real dollars, real results and positive change for
British Columbians. We have kept our promises and British Columbia
is stronger for it.
In my riding of
Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam, I have fought hard for important
investments and results for my community.
Our government
delivered $1 million for the new arena in Port Moody, $1 million for
the redevelopment of Rocky Point Park in Port Moody, and tens of
thousands of dollars to support local arts programs. On the
transportation front, we have delivered the largest federal
infrastructure investment in my community in my lifetime: $90
million towards the new $198 million Pitt River bridge.
We have also
delivered $120,000 to the Village of Anmore for Anmore’s innovative
Renewable Energy Project which will assess the feasibility of
producing green hydrogen and clean electricity by integrating three
sources of renewable energy: micro-hydro, solar power and
micro-wind.
Mr. Speaker my
riding is surrounded by water: the Fraser River in the South, the
Pitt River to the east and Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm in the
West. We value our environment and keeping our coastal waters is
something all my constituents support. That’s why our government is
enacting new regulations that will protect my riding’s, and all of
Canada's coastal waters, from sewage, garbage, oil and other
pollutants. Among the regulations is a complete ban on the dumping
of untreated sewage from all boats and ships along Canada's coastal
waters.
Mr. Speaker our
Conservative Government has delivered for Canadians, delivered for
British Columbians, and delivered real results for my constituents.
Every day I
serve as the Member for Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam is an
honour. And I will continue doing all I can to ensure the community
I love has the best possible results from the Parliament of Canada
in addressing our concerns. That is why I will be voting in favour
of this Conservative budget, and for continued results for my
constituents.
Thank you very
much.
Read Budget 2007
