Of all the long laundry-list of things mentioned in the throne speech and budget, the most talked about was the possible changing of the lyrics to our national anthem. I prefer to discuss the budget and the lack of details the Conservatives offered.
The Governor General delivered a lengthy throne speech – the fifth from Stephen Harper’s government. It was 23 pages of rhetoric with no substance, clearly an attempt to justify their unnecessary and unneeded prorogation. This was followed by a budget that outlined the financial priorities of the Conservatives.
Sadly, they continue to favour the big banks and oil companies by handing them more tax cuts on a silver platter. This comes at a time when Canada’s banks are already reporting doubled profits over last year and now they’re getting billions more in tax giveaways. I don’t know why this government keeps dishing money to those who don’t need it while ignoring those who do. These billions in tax cuts to the big banks won’t help one senior in poverty and won’t create a single new job for an unemployed Canadian. And the worst part is that we are going deeper into debt to give it to them.
In their budget announcement, the Conservatives failed to address climate change, failed to protect private pensions or improve public pensions, and failed on job creation.
The Conservatives did take a few modest steps in the right direction. They claim they will create a new civilian, independent review and complaints commission for the RCMP. We’ll just have to wait and see whether it’s going to be another toothless watchdog.
We’re pleased that the government sees the Child Tax Benefit as inadequate, but an extra $3.25 a week isn’t going to help struggling families. This is clearly insufficient. Why don’t they give that $3.25 to the banks and give the billions to the families?
I noticed there were many other important issues not addressed, including no funding for a homelessness strategy, no funding to study climate science, no funding or plan for maternal health or childcare (although the Prime Minister loved chatting about both last month in Davos, trying to convince the world he cares about women and children in developing countries).
As the budget is written, there is no way the NDP can support it. Our party just can’t support something that doesn’t help the innocent victims of this recession but rewards those who brought it on. We want to make Parliament work for all Canadians so we’ve moved an amendment to the budget, calling on help for seniors, shelving the corporate tax handouts, investing in job creation and strengthening our commitment to a clean-energy future.
As with the throne speech, the budget lacks a coherent vision. This was an opportunity for the Conservatives to make important choices – stay the course with its current failed policies or ensure Canadians benefit in the economic recovery. Again I note, the Prime Minister made women and children from developing countries a priority for the G8 agenda just last month in Davos, but there is nothing in this budget to help them here at home.
And how can we even take him seriously on democratic reform, considering he’s prorogued twice in the past two years and has appointed his pals into the unelected Senate, which he promised to eliminate?
The Parliamentary Budget Officer already blames reckless tax cuts for a structural deficit as deep as $19 billion. Yet the Harper government is promising yet more spending on corporate tax cuts that will total more than $6 billion in the next two years. They’re robbing our economy of stimulus, and they’ll leave another generation of Canadians to cope with the consequences – unemployment and deteriorating services.
Mr. Harper, banks and big oil don’t deserve more of the government’s generosity.
And don’t get me started on changing the national anthem!
Author:Rupinder Kaur
