Mel Arnold

Slower phase-down, production first

The other end of this axis: Faster fossil phase-down

Repeatedly attacks the carbon tax as an extra burden on taxpayers and businesses with no economic benefit.

He talked about all the benefits, but what he has not talked about are all the extra taxes that will be added on, more taxes than we can shake a Liberal stick at: taxes on employment; taxes on medical benefits; taxes on small businesses, which the Liberals did not remove as they promised; and taxes on everything we buy, through the carbon tax. How can the member opposite explain the kick-start to the economy his government promised, when it has put this on the backs of taxpayers and has created zero new full-time jobs?

Higher spending and more capability

The other end of this axis: Restrain spending and deployments

Praises Canadian Armed Forces service and veterans repeatedly.

We must never forget our men and women in uniform, our fellow Canadians, who stand at the ready to go to the heart of danger to confront the threats to our nation. We must never forget the families of the Canadian Forces personnel who endure the separation and the stress of having loved ones deployed to confront danger on behalf of all Canadians.

Expand production and export

The other end of this axis: Restrict new oil and gas

Criticizes shutdowns of oil and gas projects and tanker moratoriums.

We have seen it time and time again. I did not get to it in my speech about how the Liberals basically shut down the Trans Mountain pipeline. Earlier in this parliamentary session, the Prime Minister stood in the House day after day and said “the pipeline will be built”.

Provinces lead

The other end of this axis: Ottawa leads

Pushes for removal of interprovincial trade barriers so provinces can trade freely without federal delays.

Why not? Why would we delay action that would free Canadians to offer their goods to fellow Canadians right across our nation? I understand that the previous government committed to working with the provinces and the territories to do away with restrictions that limit interprovincial trade.

Lower taxes and tighter spending

The other end of this axis: Higher taxes and public spending

Repeatedly condemns large deficits, broken promises on small-business tax cuts, and calls for living within means.

Broken promises, no plan to return to a balanced budget, and tax increases for employers: hardly a recipe for growth and certainly nothing to be proud of.

Assertive alliances and sanctions

The other end of this axis: Alliance restraint

Calls for use of Magnitsky Act to sanction those responsible for Uighur genocide.

The petition calls on the House of Commons to recognize that the Uighurs in China have been and are being subject to genocide and to use the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, otherwise known as the Magnitsky act, to sanction those who are responsible.

More flexibility for employers

The other end of this axis: Stronger unions and standards

Calls for expanding temporary foreign worker countries of origin to help employers and criticizes focus only on employees.

One area that's popped up with my constituents is that fruit growers in the area haven't been able to make use of the temporary farm workers program to bring in fruit-pickers on a seasonal basis. The limit that they are finding is that the countries of origin for these workers are only Mexico and the Caribbean.

Enforcement and sentencing

The other end of this axis: Prevention and restraint

Introduces bill to create specific offences and aggravating factors for theft or mischief involving firefighting equipment.

This bill would amend the Criminal Code to establish specific penalties related to the theft of firefighting equipment. It would also create an aggravating circumstance for sentencing if mischief involves firefighting equipment.

Deeper continental integration

The other end of this axis: Diversify away from one partner

Advocates immediate removal of interprovincial trade barriers to allow free movement of goods across Canada.

What we are talking about is the court clarification of free trade among the provinces and territories. The recent decision handed down by the Supreme Court of New Brunswick confirmed that section 121 of the Canadian Constitution says: All Articles of the Growth, Produce, or Manufacture of any one of the Provinces shall, from and after the Union, be admitted free into each of the other Provinces.