OTTAWA - Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff today announced he will require the Conservative government to accept mandatory reporting requirements in order for the budget to be adopted. The first comprehensive report on progress on the economy will be required by March 26, 2009.
"The budget introduced yesterday is far from perfect. It does not fix the employment insurance system for thousands of workers who have lost their jobs in the past several weeks. It still threatens pay equity for women. It breaks their promise to every province from only two years ago on equalization," said Mr. Ignatieff.
"To say that action is long overdue is an understatement. Canadians deserve action. I believe it is in the best interests of Canadians that parliamentarians get to work on the economy, so I will move to amend the budget and include a requirement that the Government report back to the House of Commons repeatedly, with the first report being required within 60 days on their progress. Mr. Harper must accept these accountability measures or his Government will fall."
"We're in this position because of choices made by a government that has systematically mismanaged our public finances for the last three years," said Mr. Ignatieff. "For Canadians, this crisis isn't about structural deficits or loan guarantees or the business cycle. It's about the nest egg they've saved up over their entire working lives, only to see it cut in half overnight. It's about worrying about how they'll pay for their kids' education, or how they'll put food on the table for their families. The country needs stability in this time of economic difficulty and that is why I am taking this action."
"This government's mismanagement of the economic crisis and failure to act has rightfully given Parliament - and Canadians - a reason to question the credibility of this government on economic matters," added Mr. Ignatieff. "We are ready to act in the national interest, as the gravity of this economic crisis demands. I hope Mr. Harper is prepared to do the same."
James Morton
3 comments:
Official Opposition is now in Newfoundland and Labrador...
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2009/01/28/williams-budget.html
Too bad Danny Williams is remembered for taking down Canadian flags. I would not be surprised to see Danny Williams creating a new federal political party (like the Bloc, but based in Newfoundland and Labrador).
That's IF Harper accepts it. Then if he doesn't? I'm sure Iggy will still play ball with him. I am very disappointed.
I agree with Peter - it's time for a new Party. Obviously the 2 biggest Parties don't care about the seriously poor. Duceppe does actually. Too bad there is no Bloc all across Canada.
What a load of hogswallop. Canada is about to reel under a recession worse than we've seen in decades and Iggy is playing partisan politics.
He goes on to enumerate all sorts of reasons he ought to have defeated the government but then says he'll back it anyway because of its stimulus measures.
At the same time the International Monetary Fund issues a report stating that the fiscal assumptions on which the Harper/Ignatieff budget are based are fatally flawed, hopelessly optimistic.
It's like kicking a soccer ball halfway up a steep hill. You waste a lot of energy and the ball winds up right back at your feet.
Ignatieff has just proved he's not the person needed to lead the Liberal Party of Canada.
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