For Immediate Release<\/p>\n
March 4, 2010
\nOTTAWA \u2013 The new Harper Conservative budget comes up short on jobs and innovation and offers Canadians little more than freezes, cuts, and gimmicks, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said today.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis budget offers what we\u2019ve come to expect from Stephen Harper\u2019s tired government: a lack of ambition and a clear distaste for what a government must do to help its citizens prepare for an uncertain future,\u201d said Mr. Ignatieff.\u00a0 \u201cThis budget leaves too many Canadians to fend for themselves, and can\u2019t hide the laissez-faire approach of a government that doesn\u2019t believe in government.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not a budget that looks ahead to the challenges of our times \u2013 and it\u2019s not a budget we can support,\u201d Mr. Ignatieff continued.\u00a0 \u201cWe will vote against it, but we\u2019re not going to cause an election. Since Canadians don\u2019t want an election and it\u2019s not in the national interest, we\u2019ll register our opposition responsibly.\u201d<\/p>\n
On jobs and innovation, the budget comes up short and even plans for more job losses:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The government\u2019s job creation targets don\u2019t make up for the 300,000 jobs already lost, or for the rise in unemployment forecasted in today\u2019s budget.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Conservatives say they want to support small business growth, but they\u2019re bringing in a $13 billion payroll tax hike that will kill 220,000 small business jobs.<\/p>\n Instead of taking real action on Canadians\u2019 priorities, this budget offers gimmicks: <\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 $10 million to encourage volunteerism for seniors, but nothing concrete to fix pensions.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A token $1 million for community war memorials, instead of helping veterans recover from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Making superficial tax changes to the universal child benefit, that low-income families and single parents won`t benefit from.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A mere $25 million on clean energy, from a government that let 93% of its Green Infrastructure Fund go unspent last year.<\/p>\n Instead of investments in research, innovation or clean energy, this budget offers cuts:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Conservatives cut $148 million from Canada\u2019s research councils in the last budget, but want to take credit for reinvesting $32 million this year.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The cancellation of the EcoEnergy program for renewable power production.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Conservatives refused to let the Canada Space Agency spend $160 million in approved spending over the past two years, but want to take credit for adding $23 million in this budget.<\/p>\n Instead of curtailing excessive partisanship, this budget offers freezes:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cancelling $4.5 billion in planned Overseas Development Assistance when Canada is focused on development in Afghanistan and Haiti and pays lip service to maternal health in developing countries.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Starting in 2011, freezing all government operating budgets across the board without any indication for how this will affect the programs and services Canadians rely on, while continuing to waste taxpayer dollars on government partisan advertising and consultants.<\/p>\n Instead of addressing Canadians\u2019 most pressing issues, this budget offers no action:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nothing on pensions.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nothing on climate change or to create clean energy jobs.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nothing on health care and our aging demographics.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nothing on culture.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nothing on helping veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nothing on the future of our digital economy.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nothing for New Canadians or to close the immigrant success gap.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile this budget is a clear disappointment, our party is focused on building the better alternative for Canadians,\u201d Mr. Ignatieff said.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ve made clear proposals on jobs and pensions, because we\u2019re the party that stands with middle income Canadians, seniors, and families struggling to get by.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur party will continue to develop the ideas, policies and concrete actions that should be brought forward by a responsible, caring and future-oriented government.\u201d<\/p>\n -30-<\/p>\n Office of the Leader of the Opposition<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For Immediate Release March 4, 2010 OTTAWA \u2013 The new Harper Conservative budget comes up short on jobs and innovation and offers Canadians little more than freezes, cuts, and gimmicks, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said today. \u201cThis budget offers what we\u2019ve come to expect from Stephen Harper\u2019s tired government: a lack of ambition and a 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