January 27, 2009
Budget to focus on economy
Prince George Citizen
The throne speech from the federal government delivered a short message that focused squarely on the struggling Canadian economy. The details will be spelled out in today’s budget.
Cariboo-Prince George Conservative MP Dick Harris called the short throne speech appropriate since the issue in front of the country is the economy.
“The government has to take steps to mitigate (the economic) challenges and lay the groundwork to turn our economy around, said Harris. “I think we’re certainly in a better position than many countries, but nevertheless we have a huge challenge, and the budget is what we as a government are offering to meet those challenges.”
Canada, like other countries, is being impacted by global economic slowdown, a result of tightening credit and decreasing stock markets worldwide.
In northern B.C., an already lengthy forestry downturn has been exacerbated by the global slowdown. The mining and oil and gas sectors, as well as other manufacturing areas, have been caught in the slowdown.
The minority Conservative government has already laid out some of its spending plans prior to releasing the budget, and has projected $64 billion in deficits during the next two fiscal years. For example, on Monday it said it will pour $7 billion into infrastructure. About $4 billion will be spent over two years on provincial and municipal projects that are ready to go, including roads, bridges and sewer systems.
Another $2 billion will go to repairs, maintenance and construction at colleges and universities, and $1 billion will be spent on green infrastructure.
The Conservatives have also said they are considering a $1-billion aid package to help retrain workers in hard-hit industries.
Harris said he and Prince George-Peace River MP Jay Hill have been working to put northern B.C. issues at the forefront. Those include expanding unemployment benefits for laid-off forestry workers and extending a work-share program. Under the program, the unemployment benefits of workers are topped at mills where the work week has been reduced.
Harris also criticized NDP leader Jack Layton for rejecting the budget without seeing it.
Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has said he will look at the budget before passing judgment.
Skeena-Bulkley Valley NDP MP Nathan Cullen said the key issue is whether the Conservatives can be trusted to carry through on their budget promises. He noted that only a fraction of infrastructure spending the Conservatives have announced since they’ve been in power has actually been spent.
“Does the government sincerely care about folks that are hitting hard times, or is Mr. Harper just trying to save his own political future?” questioned Cullen, whose riding extends from the northwest coast east to include Fort St. James.
On a recent tour of 10 communities in northern B.C., Cullen said there was a concern that any infrastructure spending takes place at the local level to create local jobs. He said he also did not hear a call for tax cuts, but rather for spending on areas like housing and social services.
