March 3, 2010

Throne speech

Tories vow to complete economic stimulus plan

Government says it took ‘decisive steps’ to create jobs, help workers ‘get back on their feet’

VINCE VERSACE

staff writer

A 6,000-word throne speech which outlined the Conservative government’s themes for governance on the eve of the federal budget delivered a commitment to complete its economic stimulus plan.

“Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government took decisive steps to protect incomes, create jobs, ease credit markets, and help workers and communities get back on their feet,” said Michaelle Jean, Canada’s Governor General.

“As we begin to see modest improvements in growth and employment, the task before us today is to finish the work begun last year.”

The wide-ranging hour-long speech covered broad themes such as:

• Cutting the deficit
• Streamlining environmental red tape for mining and energy sectors
• Restraining program spending and ending stimulus funding as of March 31, 2011
• A salary freeze for the prime minister, cabinet ministers, members of parliaments and senators and departmental operating budgets
• Loosening foreign investment rules for specific sectors and fishery management reform.

The speech stated that the government’s stimulus plan created 135,000 net new jobs since July 2009.

“From coast to coast to coast, almost 16,000 projects are putting Canadians to work while laying the foundation for future prosperity,” said Jean. “These projects range from roads and bridges to colleges and universities, from social housing to our cultural and heritage institutions.”

Various Liberal representatives disputed the job creation claims after the throne speech and all opposition leaders said that not enough was said about new job creation initiatives.

Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff said the speech did not deliver a “re-calibration” of the government’s plan moving forward but a reaffirmation of what it has been doing since it came to power.

The government said the first step towards “restoring fiscal balance” will be to “wind down stimulus spending” as economic activity rebounds. The federal government will work with the provinces and municipalities to ensure that stimulus funding measures come to an end by March 31, 2011.

“Our government’s top priority is therefore to complete the second year of Canada’s Economic Action Plan and to continue creating jobs and growth,” Jean said.

“Our government will work with its partners in the provinces and territories to make certain that projects are completed now and over the coming year, when the stimulus is most needed.”

The Conservative government also said that a skilled and educated workforce is paramount to economic recovery and success. The government plans to continue to provide support for skills, apprenticeships and training of Canadian workers.

“It will make timely information on labour market opportunities available for all Canadians, especially in the area of the skilled trades. It will expand the opportunities for our top graduates to pursue post-doctoral studies and to commercialize their ideas,” said Jean.

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