FEDERAL BUDGET MISSES THE MARK
NDP leader Todd Hardy says the federal budget does not go far enough or move fast enough to help most Canadian families, businesses and communities weather this economic storm.
"The Harper government should have charted a new course for Canada in these times of economic uncertainty and hardship," Hardy says. "Instead of restructuring the economy and making it more sustainable, more efficient and more modern, it focuses too much on short-term relief and propping up aging technologies and inefficient industries."
Despite promising to spend $60 billion on corporate tax cuts, the budget only gives $1.15 billion to the 1.6 million unemployed, ignores university students saddled with crippling debts and continues to prevent the ability of women to pursue pay equity complaints, he adds.
"Where are the reduced waiting periods and improved eligibility requirements for the unemployed? Where are the major tax cuts for low- and middle-income earners? Where is the help for provincial, territorial or municipal governments that cannot cover up to 50 per cent of eligible infrastructure project costs?"
Hardy says he would like to see this budget adopt some of the many progressive measures proposed in the alternative federal budget released last week by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
"To quote from this document, ‘It is time for government to think on a grander scale. It is time to establish a new paradigm to ensue that, once the economy bounces back from its current shock, it works for the majority, not just a powerful minority.’"
This budget will not protect the most vulnerable or create the jobs of the future. It also ignores one of the greatest threats facing all living things, the accelerating buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that contribute to global warming.
"I am glad the Harper government is finally coming clean and admitting the global economic crisis will affect Canada and deficit financing is needed to get us out of this mess. This is a far cry from what it said less than two months ago. But I wonder how it can predict with such certainty it will be back in a surplus position within five years. That’s not economic planning. That’s wishful thinking."