Last week our Conservative government tabled our 2009 Economic Action Plan, or budget. I was largely pleased with its contents, as it contains a mix of targeted financial stimulus – necessary in this time of economic downturn – along with more tax cuts, something all the Opposition parties stated they did not want to see.
It is a good budget.
It comes as a result of an unprecedented amount of consultation and input from across Canada. Personally, I spent two months asking for and listening to input from hundreds of Vegreville-Wainwright constituents. I want to thank you all for your time and thoughtful suggestions – these discussions were extremely helpful and positive. I presented all of the recommendations to the Finance Minister and many of them were indeed incorporated into this Action Plan. These information-gathering sessions were being conducted by every one of our Conservative Members of Parliament, including our Finance Minister who worked tirelessly to ensure that this extremely important budget will accomplish what it must.
Although Canada is in a rather enviable position compared to the rest of the global economy, we have to be very conscious of our actions over the next 12 to 24 months to ensure that our country comes out of this downturn stronger than ever. Our Action Plan needed to be comprehensive in order to stimulate economic growth, restore confidence and support Canadians and their families during an international recession. I am confident Budget 2009 does that.
I do have to state however, that there is one part that I do not like, and that is the fact that this Budget contains a deficit. No conservative likes to run a deficit. Not myself, not the Finance Minister and certainly not the Prime Minister. The fact that the international financial situation has made running a short-term deficit a necessity, is unfortunate. It is especially frustrating that this downturn was not caused by Canada’s government or Canadians themselves but rather the inappropriate actions of government in other countries.
But it will be a short-term, controlled deficit for the very simple reason that it uses “conservative stimulus” not liberal stimulus. For example:
- we provided tax relief for the middle class, something the Liberals opposed;
- we brought in temporary stimulative measures while the Liberals would have made them permanent; and
- we provided broad-based support for the economy. The Liberals would have given it all to special interest groups.
In the end, the Liberal Opposition did support our five year plan and we will move forward to get through this crisis and come out the other side stronger than ever.
