Conservative Government Focusing on the Economy

December 19, 2008

Mike Allen, MP
Tobique-Mactaquac

Friends, there’s been a lot happening in Ottawa over the past few weeks.

I’d like to take a moment to give some insight into what Canadians have been seeing unfold on and around Parliament Hill.

First of all, I think it’s clear that Canadians are more engaged in politics right now than many of us have seen in a very long time.

How do I know? The emails — the letters — the rallies—the phone calls.

Canadians’ voices are speaking loud and clear. They’re speaking out against those who want to cut ordinary Canadians out of the political process.

They’re saying no to this coalition.

So how did it come to this?

On October 14th, we went to the polls and Canadians re-elected Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative government.

At the same time Canadians gave Stéphane Dion and the Liberal Party the lowest level of support they’ve received since Confederation.

Soon after, our government delivered the Speech from the Throne — this is the speech that sets out the government’s blueprint for action for the coming year.

This blueprint builds on the action our government has already taken to prepare Canada early for the global economic storm with lower taxes, reduced debt and solid, reliable banks that Canadians can count on.

And this blueprint includes a solid plan to keep spending low, controlled and prudent. It provides the right sort of support for our traditional and manufacturing industries so that they can meet tomorrow’s challenges as well as today’s.

Our government is taking action to keep taxes low so that Canadian businesses can put more of their own money into being successful and that ordinary Canadians have more money in their pockets.

And our government is doubling job-creating infrastructure spending that will pour money into roads, bridges and other essential projects to keep Canada moving, growing and strong.

I want to emphasize something very clearly: if the Opposition disagreed with the direction the government was taking, voting down the Speech from the Throne was the perfect opportunity to express that disagreement.

But they didn’t. They unanimously supported the Speech from the Throne.
Instead, the Opposition parties decided that they had a different plan for Canada — a plan that didn’t require input from a single ordinary Canadian.

A plan that — when exposed — was more about power than anything else.
And then the next thing you know, we see Stéphane Dion, NDP leader Jack Layton and Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe shaking hands over a backroom deal that they signed without consulting the very people who they claim to represent.

My friends, the reaction seen across the province has ranged from frustration to outrage.

Because, while it’s true that not all Canadians voted for our Conservative government, we can be sure that no Canadian voted for a Prime Minister Stéphane Dion who was beholden to the NDP and the Bloc for any decision, any action and any choice.

That wasn’t on my ballot and it wasn’t on yours.

But my friends, there has been enough division and enough upset. The economy must continue to be our priority.

In accepting the Prime Minister’s advice to prorogue Parliament until the 26th of January, the Governor General has acted in the very best interests of the country.

This action will provide all parties with the opportunity to step back, clear heads and refocus on the number-one priority of the nation: the economy.

Now is the time to bridge our political differences — to look for common ground and build on it.

And what’s clear to me is that our common ground must be the desire for Canada to succeed. The desire for those who love this country — all of this country — to come together and make the political process work.

Our government is already working to build bridges with the Opposition parties.  We have extended an olive branch to the new Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff and to the other parties too.

And we hope that they will take us up on our offer.

In addition to working with our political colleagues across the floor of the House and across Canada, we are collaborating with Canadian business, industry, and manufacturing sectors, and with our provincial governments. Furthermore, the Prime Minister will ensure that relations with the new Obama administration in the United States, and with leaders around the world, will help hasten us all towards a global solution to this global economic turmoil.

Our great country is in a good position to weather this economic storm that is surrounding us because the Conservative government acted ahead of the curve.

We’ve cut taxes early, like the GST, which dropped two percentage points. Only now are other nations, like the United Kingdom, following our lead by cutting their own sales tax.

We’ve cut billions in job-killing taxes — that’s $49 billion over five years, including $5.9 billion in this year alone.

We’re pouring more money into infrastructure, which both creates jobs and helps more Canadian families and workers get to where they need to go in safety and on time.

And we’re injecting $75 billion of liquidity into the credit markets to ensure that Canadian households and businesses can continue to have access to credit and so that the Canadian banking system will remain strong.

And with our new budget at the end of January, there will be more targeted stimulus that will help to keep our economy moving, and to help us weather the economic storm.

Together, we will get through this difficult time.

My friends, I hope that you will continue to stand up for Canada and ensure that the political process reflects your voices across this country, as well as your desire to see our country continue to succeed both now and in the years to come.

And I promise you that our Conservative government will work with all parties necessary to ensure that the focus during this difficult time is squarely where it needs to be — on the economy. Only then can we truly act in the best interests of the country and of all Canadians from coast to coast to coast.