HILL DISAPPOINTED WITH BUDGET

OTTAWA-Jay Hill, MP for Prince George-Peace River reacted to the budget tabled today by the Minister of Finance, Paul Martin. 

“This is what we have waited two years for?…What a disappointment. There is nothing new here for over-taxed Canadians, in fact their disposable income will go down in the new year when the CPP premium increases far outstrip the paltry 5¢ reduction in EI premiums.” Hill fumed. 

While Hill said he is supportive of the $7.7 billion targeted over five years to enhance security and our armed forces, without increased vigilance he questioned whether the money would be effectively managed. 

“The Minister failed to address, even in passing, the concerns expressed in last weeks Auditor General’s report about wasteful spending and insufficient departmental monitoring.” Hill stated. 

The past decade was one of incredible economic growth for Canadians and the rest of the industrialized world. While most countries took the opportunity to pay off the debts racked up in the 1970s and 1980s, the Liberal government failed to control spending or significantly reduce the debt, and free up more money for things like health care, security and education. Under the current economic slowdown, serious progress on those fronts will be next to impossible. Canada had the opportunity to straighten out its economic fundamentals and head into an economic downturn with the knowledge that our fiscal house was in order. The Liberals squandered that opportunity. 

“There is nothing new for healthcare, nothing new for the struggling softwood lumber industry or agriculture.  Nothing to help put a turkey on the table this Christmas.” concluded Hill.