News

Why is the government ignoring the will of Parliament?

from Hansard, March 20, 2007

Ms. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North, NDP): Mr. Speaker, listen to these words.

The Prime Minister has the moral responsibility to respect the will of the House...

That is a quote from Hansard of April 13, 2005, less than two years ago made by this Conservative Prime Minister but recently the House adopted a seniors' charter that would lower drug and dental costs for everyone over 65 and the veterans' first motion that would help extend services and benefits to our veterans.

WINNIPEG - Following a meeting with the Finance Minster Jim Flaherty, NDP Finance Critic Judy Wasylycia-Leis released her party's expectations for the upcoming Conservative budget: make life more affordable for regular Canadians. The NDP says the government must address the growing prosperity gap in Canada and have proposed the federal budget increase climate change spending, make real investment in education and must include meaningful assistance to Canada's working and middle class.

NDP Leader Jack Layton says the prosperity gap in Canada is growing and it's time for the Conservatives to close the gap.

The Finance Committee has completed its pre-budget consultation and issued its final report, Canada: Competing to Win. As the NDP member of the Committee, I was able to win some improvements to the Report's recommendations, but the Report is still lacking in many regards. We, therefore, issued an NDP Supplementary Report, a copy of which is attached along with a link to the full Committee Report.

Judy

Conservatives are not being honest about who today's tax cuts will really help

OTTAWA - NDP Finance critic Judy Wasylycia-Leis dismissed the Finance Minister's "economic update" as merely pre-election posturing by Conservatives bent on handing out tax cuts at the expense of critical government programs and she vowed to fight for balance in the upcoming budget.

"New Democrats support responsible debt repayment - but this government is moving at reckless speed. Households don't go without the basics just to pay the mortgage off faster. But that is what this government is doing," said Layton.

from Hansard, November 1, 2006

Ms. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North, NDP): Mr. Speaker, despite the fact that the income trust announcement yesterday is a flip-flop that could only make a Liberal proud, it is an important direction for everyday working families.

The finance minister has set an important precedent by closing this tax loophole. As he said yesterday, income trusts are growing trend to corporate tax avoidance.

Considering the minister's statement, will he today commit to shutting down all loopholes in Canada's tax laws including the Barbados tax haven?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 20, 2006

OTTAWA - NDP Finance Critic Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North) today called on the Conservative government to take immediate steps to shut down all remaining off-shore tax havens in the wake of Canada Revenue Agency claims that it is owed $2 billion by drugmaker Merck Frosst.

"The NDP spent years trying to get the Liberals to lower the flags of convenience flown overseas by Canadian corporations to avoid taxes," says Wasylycia-Leis. "The Conservatives have had plenty of time to act against tax havens since taking over government and haven't. This two billion dollar tax bill shows how urgent it is that we act."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCTOBER 18, 2006

NDP FINANCE CRITIC CALLS FOR FREEZE ON INCOME TRUST CONVERSIONS

Smoke and mirrors of trust marketing is obscuring investors' view

OTTAWA - Citing new research released today on the questionable accounting practices of income trusts and the continued trust conversion of large corporations to avoid income taxes, NDP Finance Critic Judy Wasylycia-Leis is calling on the Conservative government to freeze new trust conversions and re-assess this investment instrument.

"Canadians are facing a dual threat from income trusts," says Wasylycia-Leis. "We stand to lose billions of dollars in budget revenue to support our health care, pensions and other programs from lost corporate income taxes. At the same time, we also face the threat of investor losses from income trusts' exaggerated performance expectations."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCTOBER 6, 2006

OTTAWA - NDP Finance Critic Judy Wasylycia-Leis hails today's introduction of a bill that will allow provincial governments to regulate payday loans as a major breakthrough. For years she has been active in the long battle to rein in the fringe banking industry.

"New Democrats have been fighting for the regulation of the payday lending industry for many years," says Wasylycia-Leis. "Finally, after all the horror stories, we have a bill before Parliament to amend the Criminal Code. We'll be looking for quick passage of this bill to enable provinces like Manitoba to move ahead with their plans for effective consumer protection as soon as possible."