Peter Van Loan, MP, York-Simcoe
This week Members of Parliament returned to Ottawa. While the elites may be talking about other issues, I know that York-Simcoe residents care primarily about the economy.
The global economic downturn has taken a devastating toll on our American neighbours, and most other developed economies. By comparison, Canada has done much better. But we need to stay focused to succeed and emerge from the downturn in a strong position.
In the House of Commons, we will see a debate on these fundamental issues this fall.
For example, Canada has a strong fiscal position. We have the lowest debt and the lowest deficit of any of the major developed economies (the G-7 countries of USA, Great Britain, Germany, France, Japan, Italy and Canada).
The opposition Liberals argue that this gives us room for new rounds of stimulus spending, more programs and bigger government.
The view of our Conservative Party is that we must keep debt and deficit down to maintain our strong position. That's why we have a three point plan that will cut our deficit in half next year. It will put us on track to be the first of those major countries to eliminate our deficit, according to the International Monetary Fund.
Another area for debate will be taxes. The Liberals have voted against all of our tax reductions, including the reduction of the GST from 7% to 5%. They now say tax cuts must be reversed. In addition to an increase in the GST, and their policy convention voting to introduce a carbon tax - the Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff is spending much time talking about his proposal to reverse the tax cuts for job-creating businesses.
Our Conservative Party believes that our tax reductions are one of the reasons our economy has been faring so much better than the others. The tax cuts have put an average of $3000 a year back in the pockets of the typical Canadian family. This has meant more money to spend on family priorities - and stronger economic growth.
In fact, as a result, Canada has been posting the strongest economic growth of any of the major economies - something that is projected to continue into the future according to the International Monetary Fund.
As you watch the debate unfold in the House of Commons, you will be able to see the clear choice. Watch who is asking for more spending, more programs and bigger government. Remember that you will have to pay for that, through higher taxes or more government debt (even higher taxes later).
And on the other side, you will see a Conservative Party defending a record of lower taxes and a deficit reduction plan.
It is a refreshingly clear choice, at a time when many complain that all politicians stand for the same thing.
(This article appeared first in the Innisfil Scope, September 22, 2010. It has been posted as well on Minister Van Loan’s website, our source, http://www.petervanloan.com/do... )
Clear Choices on the Economy (3)
Eestlased Kanadas | 29 Sep 2010 | EWR
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Bigger government, don't forget, it was the Stephen Harper and the Conservatives which introduced 30 new seats in the House of Commons in April.
Canada has fared well in it's recession because of the fiscal and monetary structure that were already in existence.
But there will be consequences if the government fails to address the stagnation in unemployment and focus on continued tunnelvision of defecit reduction. $3000 savings in taxes are nothing, when there is no income being taken into consideration. Let alone, the millions you are spending for those who depend on EI.
The longer the unemployed are unemployed, the more expensive will be the recovery to bring those back to work who have lost self confidence, and need to be re-trained. Statistics for unemployment are also being skewed by the proportion of work sharing and part-time work. Labour Market strategies should have been taken into consideration, a good example would be the Scandinavian countries who used labour market strategies to keep citizens productive.
It was also the Conservatives' who pre-emptively whopped out a hefty stimulus package of $47.2-billion last year. Don't forget $9.5 Million of this to GM Canada. No one has mentioned the fact that this done in partnership with the American government and their $30 Billion to GMAmerica, in order to "save" GM and the many Canadian jobs, which were in turn lost anyways, when several months later GMAmerica closed it's Canadian plant.
There has been very little done in way of Labour structure and has been little done to help exporters. The small minority Conservative government, let alone, a young one and inexperienced one, was not equipped to handle all of the issues with the Canadian economy. There was not enough being done to all aspects of macroeconomic policy. Progrogueing of government, stalling on important issues, focusing on "separatists" and ideological issues, placating to “the World stage” like the G8 and G20 summits, not being transparent, and playing dumb politics, when Canada required more manpower (bigger government) to address all of these economic issues which were taking place, Canada could have been up there with China, India and Brazil in positive growth during the financial crises had it not been for these issues.
Canada has fared well in it's recession because of the fiscal and monetary structure that were already in existence.
But there will be consequences if the government fails to address the stagnation in unemployment and focus on continued tunnelvision of defecit reduction. $3000 savings in taxes are nothing, when there is no income being taken into consideration. Let alone, the millions you are spending for those who depend on EI.
The longer the unemployed are unemployed, the more expensive will be the recovery to bring those back to work who have lost self confidence, and need to be re-trained. Statistics for unemployment are also being skewed by the proportion of work sharing and part-time work. Labour Market strategies should have been taken into consideration, a good example would be the Scandinavian countries who used labour market strategies to keep citizens productive.
It was also the Conservatives' who pre-emptively whopped out a hefty stimulus package of $47.2-billion last year. Don't forget $9.5 Million of this to GM Canada. No one has mentioned the fact that this done in partnership with the American government and their $30 Billion to GMAmerica, in order to "save" GM and the many Canadian jobs, which were in turn lost anyways, when several months later GMAmerica closed it's Canadian plant.
There has been very little done in way of Labour structure and has been little done to help exporters. The small minority Conservative government, let alone, a young one and inexperienced one, was not equipped to handle all of the issues with the Canadian economy. There was not enough being done to all aspects of macroeconomic policy. Progrogueing of government, stalling on important issues, focusing on "separatists" and ideological issues, placating to “the World stage” like the G8 and G20 summits, not being transparent, and playing dumb politics, when Canada required more manpower (bigger government) to address all of these economic issues which were taking place, Canada could have been up there with China, India and Brazil in positive growth during the financial crises had it not been for these issues.
It was Paul Martin who fixed the problems caused by Mulroney's spending spree. Now it's Harper who has royally screwed Martin's spending and revenue fixes. The stats don't lie: Harper and Van Loan have created the highest spending Canadian government in history. Thanks to their "leadership", yet another Tory government will leave a mess for a future government to clean up.
Typical politician B.S.
Why is it that anyone who disagrees with the Harper government is an "elitist"? For the record, I've voted Conservative many times. Harris started the change, but mainly Harper has converted my vote to the Liberals. Under the Conservatives and their "tax cuts" the national debt has increased, schools have had to introduce fees for just about everything, municipal services have decreased, and hwy 407 tolls have gone up five-fold, just to name a few things.
Oh, and by the way, I own a long gun, live in the country and I support the long-gun registry!
Why is it that anyone who disagrees with the Harper government is an "elitist"? For the record, I've voted Conservative many times. Harris started the change, but mainly Harper has converted my vote to the Liberals. Under the Conservatives and their "tax cuts" the national debt has increased, schools have had to introduce fees for just about everything, municipal services have decreased, and hwy 407 tolls have gone up five-fold, just to name a few things.
Oh, and by the way, I own a long gun, live in the country and I support the long-gun registry!
Eestlased Kanadas
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