To the Editor:
The elusive Joe Oliver – Finance Minister-in-hiding – surfaced briefly at a clothing plant in Toronto today to announce the 2015 Federal Budget date. It’s Tuesday, April 21st.
And way overdue. The gap between the last budget (Feb. 11/14) and this next one will exceed a full federal fiscal year. With a weak economy that’s been limping along since the last recession six years ago, and with the more recent over-burden of a troubled energy sector shredding jobs, investments and exports – the Harper government has been largely missing-in-action.
Through the last three months, the Finance Minister has made only five cameo appearances in the House of Commons Question Period. He seems incapable of defending himself or the government’s less-than-stellar economic performance. He certainly fails to inspire confidence.
That was evident again today when Mr. Oliver devoted most of his air-time to a turgid attack on Justin Trudeau and the Liberals. It was petty, filled with falsehoods and distortions, and sounded rather desperate. The Harper Conservatives are clearly spooked.
Mr. Trudeau is offering three key things to Canadians that Mr. Harper cannot:
First, a positive ambitious vision of what Canadians can accomplish when they pull together (as opposed to Mr. Harper’s “wedges” of fear and division and his endless grinding mediocrity). Mr. Trudeau is riveted on the well-being of the middle-class and all those working so hard just to get there, and that’s the prime determinant of both a successful economy and a healthy democracy.
Second, a strong team of both seasoned veterans and exciting new people who have excellent economic credentials. Through the past quarter-century, Liberals have been the ones to practice fiscal responsibility, eliminate deficits, reduce debt and invest in growth. Mr. Harper’s legacy is $10-billion in higher taxes over the past five years, $157-billion in new Harper debt, deficient job quantity and quality, and the worst growth record of any Prime Minister in eight decades.
Third, a plan to drive greater investment in real economic growth and jobs to rekindle confidence among Canadians. Transformative infrastructure. Better access to higher learning and skills. Science and innovation. More effective trade. Environmental credibility leading to better markets. These are some of the main building-blocks of sustained and sustainable growth upon which a more prosperous Canada can be built.
By contrast, the Harper plan is one thing only – a large tax break (Income Splitting) mostly for wealthier people. Even the late Jim Flaherty found it unpalatable. He felt it was too expensive (more than $2-billion every year), and unfair (86% of Canadian households will never qualify and the biggest gains go to those earning more than $233,000). It worsens inequality and detracts from economic growth. All these worries have recently been confirmed independently by the Parliamentary Budget Officer.
At a time when the economy is actually shrinking, business confidence is at a six-year low, unemployment is rising, and job quality is the worst it’s been in 25 years, it’s no wonder the Governor of the Bank of Canada calls the situation “atrocious”. He says “considerable monetary stimulus” is required just to keep Canada from falling back into recession.
And the best Mr. Harper can do is stall the budget until he concocts some political “spin” to camouflage his big tax break for Canada’s most wealthy. Watch for the multi-million-dollar advertising campaign that’s about to inundate the nation. No jobs, no growth, just advertising!
Ralph Goodale
Member of Parliament Wascana
