Mr. Tony Martin (Sault Ste. Marie, NDP): 
    “Mr. Speaker, the government’s refusal to implement a national poverty strategy is an insult to our vulnerable citizens. For three years, the human resources committee has-heard from 260 witnesses who have overwhelmingly called for Ottawa to lead in the fight against poverty. Their testimony showed, without a doubt, that Canadians expect to see a plan to address this issue. However, it now seems clear they cannot expect that type of leadership from the government.
    “When will the Conservatives ditch their ideology and stop writing off so many people?”
   
Hon. Diane Finley (Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, CPC): 
    “Mr. Speaker, we believe that the best way to fight poverty is to create jobs, to create a strong economy, and to give people the skills to compete and succeed in our economy.
    “Throughout the recession, we have been doing just that. We put 1.2 million people into skills training. We enhanced the supports while they lost their jobs, while focusing on creating new jobs through investments in infrastructure and expanding access to jobs.
    “We are there. We have been supporting them, fighting poverty every step of the way. Unfortunately, the NDP has voted against every single thing we have done to help the vulnerable.”
   
Mr. Tony Martin (Sault Ste. Marie, NDP): 
    “Mr. Speaker, the suffering in our communities shows the government is dead wrong. The Conservatives are writing off the potential of so many of our citizens. Four million Canadians still live in poverty. The jobs being created are part-time, low wage and without benefits.
    “Today, the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction expressed its deep disappointment in the government, saying that a national poverty strategy is essential in building the country’s prosperity.
    “Does the government understand that it needs to lead on this issue? Does it know that Canadians expect leadership in the fight against poverty?”
   
Hon. Diane Finley (Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, CPC): 
    “Mr. Speaker, we really do believe that the best way to fight poverty is to help people get a job and get the skills they need for their job, and to create those jobs. Through our economic action plan, we have created over 460,000 jobs across this country. Not only that, but many of these are really good-paying jobs. We have helped 1.2 million Canadians get the training and the skills they need for the jobs oftoday and the jobs of tomorrow.
    “We are investing in Canadians because we believe in them. We are working to prevent poverty. Unfortunately, the NDP is trying to mire people in it.”