Libby in Question Period

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, what the minister is not saying is that the government is running scared from the HST. In fact, the Prime Minister has flown halfway around the world in order to distance himself from his own legislation.

Just as much as they hate this tax shift, the people of B.C. are also tired of the government playing fast and loose with the HST. They are tired of the procedural games and the ducking of responsibility.

If the government is so certain of the positive effects of the HST, why is it running from this debate?

Hon. James Moore (Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, we do not run from our record on taxes. We are proud to stand up as the party that always lowers taxes.

This government ran on a very clear and precise platform that we would lower taxes for Canadians, and we have delivered every single time.

There was a time, when we dealt with sales taxes, that the Liberals said they were going to scrap, kill and abolish the GST. We said we would lower the GST, and we delivered.

We were elected because Canadians know that the opposition cannot be trusted on taxes. We were re-elected because we deliver low taxes for Canadians.

Question Period
House of Commons
September 29, 2009

Right Hon. Stephen Harper (Prime Minister, CPC) :
The leader of the NDP is obviously very confused. The decision of whether to harmonize a provincial sales tax with a federal sales tax is a decision made by the province. On the contrary, this government lowered the GST, the federal sales tax, twice. The NDP voted against it and argued against it both times.

Some hon. members: Hear, hear!

Right Hon. Stephen Harper: Mr. Speaker, they cheer. That is why nobody thinks they have any credibility on talking about sales taxes.

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): Mr. Speaker, there is no confusion on this side. We know where this tax started. It started with that government in their budget and now they are trying to hide from it.

In my province of British Columbia, hard-working families are being hit with this surprise tax hike on everything from haircuts to home heating. We know about the $1.6 billion bribe that is being paid to the provincial Liberals. However, we do not know when negotiations started or why the government is now trying to duck the issue.

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, it is said there are two certainties in life, death and taxes. This finance minister wants to hit both with his HST scheme.

The B.C. Liberals have foolishly signed on. Now British Columbians will have to pay 7% more for essentials like food, haircuts, vitamins and even funerals.

Why is the Conservative government hellbent on raising taxes at a time when many British Columbians are struggling to pay their bills every day? Why are they foisting this tax on the people of British Columbia?

House of Commons
Question Period
HANSARD

Ms. Libby Davies (MP, Vancouver East)

Mr. Speaker: B.C. has been hit hard by this economic recession.

The Conservatives claim to understand how important it is to stimulate and support the local economy and tourism.

Why then, in this economic downturn, is the federal government derailing a $30 Million opportunity for a 2nd Amtrak run from Seattle to Vancouver by charging unprecedented inspection fees?

So I ask the Minister, will he support the local economy and expanded rail service to Vancouver and immediately withdraw the demand for CBSA inspection fees?