Mr. Paul Calandra (Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs, CPC)

Mr. Speaker, when I first got here in 2008, the member for Medicine Hat was asking of the Liberal Party—

Mr. LaVar Payne

Where is the 40 million bucks?

Mr. Paul Calandra

Now, Mr. Speaker, here it is on the last day of this session, and the member for Medicine Hat is still asking—

Oh, oh!

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Barry Devolin)

Order. The hon. member for Hamilton Centre.

Mr. David Christopherson (Hamilton Centre, NDP)

Mr. Speaker, it is always good to hear now and then from the member for Medicine Hat.

Remember when Conservatives used to care about defending taxpayers' money? Not anymore. Since Conservatives came to power, they have spent a staggering $750 million of public money on Conservative advertising: TV ads, radio ads, polling, and even almost $2 million on Facebook ads, all paid for by Canadians. No wonder people are ready for change.

When exactly did these former Reformers forget what it means to be frugal when it comes to respecting taxpayer dollars?

Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Democratic Reform, CPC)

Mr. Speaker, the NDP does not want Canadians to know about the tax reductions and increased benefits that we have delivered to families. In fact, the universal child care benefit, under the leadership of Prime Minister Harper, will pay $2,000 per child under six and $720 for kids 6 through 17.

The NDP and Liberals want to take that money away, and that is why they do not want Canadian parents to know about it in the first place. We will keep telling parents about these increased benefits and we will keep delivering them as well.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Barry Devolin)

Before I go to the member for Hamilton Centre, I know we are getting near the end of the session, but I would remind all hon. members that the rules are still in order.

The hon. member for Hamilton Centre.

Mr. David Christopherson (Hamilton Centre, NDP)

Mr. Speaker, given the two protagonists who were just up, I am not sure which one you were speaking to, but I think we will both take it under advisement.

While Conservatives were using taxpayer funds to promote themselves, they have not done the job on important issues like military procurement. They bungled the F-35s, and the Sea Kings replacement, the Cyclone helicopters, due to be fully delivered by 2008, are now—wait for it—seven years late. Seven years late is bad enough, but now DND is questioning whether the engines are even strong enough to do the job.

Why have the Conservatives bungled yet another important military procurement?

Mr. James Bezan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, CPC)

Mr. Speaker, I want to advise everyone that National Defence has said these helicopters will meet all operational requirements. The manufacturer will make improvements to the helicopters as we go forward. Our government is proud to finally deliver on our promise to provide new maritime helicopters for the Canadian Armed Forces, unlike the previous Liberal government that cancelled the contract for the EH-101s instead of investing to replace the maritime helicopters and the old Sea Kings. We now have new kit, and these are wonderful aircraft that our forces are going to be using well into the future.

Mrs. Sadia Groguhé (Saint-Lambert, NDP)

Mr. Speaker, after 10 years of Conservative rule, the list of poorly managed procurement contracts just keeps growing. Everyone remembers the F-35s. Today we learned that the project to replace the Sea King helicopters with Cyclone helicopters, which was supposed to have been completed in 2008, is seven years behind. Furthermore, the Department of National Defence is now wondering whether the engines are powerful enough.

How can the Conservatives have mismanaged this priority file so badly?

Mr. James Bezan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, CPC)

Mr. Speaker, I want to remind members that we inherited a decade of darkness from the previous Liberal government. It has been hard work to replace all of the procurements that are required and to put in place the new aircraft and tanks: C-17 Globemasters, which we have five of now, a brand new C-130J Hercules aircraft, tactical heavy-lift helicopters, Chinooks, and now the new Cylcones. These are going to serve the Canadian Armed Forces, and the Royal Canadian Navy, as they are going to be on board our Hali-class frigates.

Mrs. Sadia Groguhé (Saint-Lambert, NDP)

Mr. Speaker, after 10 years of Conservative rule, families are struggling to make ends meet. We have lost 400,000 manufacturing jobs. The GDP has seen its biggest drop in six years, and our exports have fallen for the second straight quarter. It is no surprise that BMO is forecasting the slowest economic growth outside of a recession in 30 years.

Do the Conservatives realize that their job creation plan is a failure and that it is time to change direction?

Mr. Andrew Saxton (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, CPC)

Mr. Speaker, despite the fragile global economy, let us be clear about our record. Since the recession, we have created 1.2 million net new jobs, including 59,000 in May. We have the lowest taxes in 50 years and the lowest debt in the G7. We have a balanced budget, and with a balanced budget we are on the path to a more prosperous Canada. We are putting money back into the pockets of Canadian families.

Canadians simply cannot afford to go back to the high-tax, high-debt ways of the Liberals and the NDP. That would kill jobs and harm the economy. Now is not the time for reckless spending and untested leadership.

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, my question is about the Prime Minister's failure to deliver to Canadians.

There have been over 30 incidents of gun violence in Surrey and Delta in the last few months alone. The Conservatives made a promise to help, and again they have failed to deliver. The mayors of Surrey and Delta and the residents of those two communities are concerned about the safety of their communities.

When will the new RCMP officers actually arrive in Surrey and Delta?

Ms. Roxanne James (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, CPC)

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to say once again in the House that our government did approve the additional resources of 100 RCMP officers.

This government has passed more than 30 tough on crime measures and public safety measures in order to keep all Canadians safe, including those in British Columbia.

The first 20 RCMP officers of the additional deployment to Surrey have already arrived at the detachment.

Once again Canadians know that they can count on this Conservative government to keep our streets and communities—

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Barry Devolin)

The hon. member for Winnipeg North.

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, Lib.)

The talk but no action continues, Mr. Speaker.

Canadians have lost patience with the tired old Conservative government and its failed economic policies. We think of stalled incomes, record-setting trade deficits, record-setting government deficits, soaring household debt, and the slowest job growth since the recession of 25 years. After a decade in office, the Prime Minister has earned the dubious distinction of having the worst economic growth record of any prime minister since the great depression.

On its last day in the House of Commons, does the government have any regrets when it comes to economic incompetence?

Mr. Andrew Saxton (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, CPC)

Mr. Speaker, the only plan we have heard from the Liberals is to raise taxes. The Liberal leader's proposed dramatic payroll tax hike would kill jobs in Canada and impose a $1,000 tax hike on every Canadian employee. In contrast, we have lowered taxes for the middle class, and all Canadians, saving a typical family of four $6,600 this year. While we are putting money back in the pockets of Canadians, the Liberals want to take it out.

Now is not the time for reckless spending and untested leadership.

Hon. John McKay (Scarborough—Guildwood, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, over the last 10 years the Conservatives have run multi-billion dollar deficits, averaging about $15 billion a year. All of their incompetence, mismanagement, phony tax cut legacy, and personal debt records are buried in a whopping $150 billion addition to the national debt.

Does a Conservative balanced budget mean that over their term it balances out at about a $15 billion deficit? Is a multi-billion dollar deficit year after year what the Conservatives mean by balanced?