Olivia Chow, MP

Recession Victims Lose, Banks Win Big in Harper Budget

OTTAWA – People who lost their jobs and other victims of this recession are the losers in this budget while banks whose profits just doubled hit the jackpot, said New Democrat Leader Jack Layton.

“Budgets are about choices. Mr. Harper has chosen to enrich banks and oil companies, the most profitable corporations in the country, with billions in spending on corporate tax cuts rather than help lift seniors out of poverty by increasing the Guaranteed Income Supplement. Instead, they are promising nothing more than to consult seniors about their poverty. That’s not help. That’s a stalling tactic.

“Mr. Harper hasn’t learned anything from this economic crisis, which was triggered by a lack of regulation and reckless risk-taking by banks and financial speculators. Instead, he’s offering more of the same old policies that got us into trouble in the first place.”

Torontonians once again lost out with no new permanent funding for public transit, child care, affordable housing, or seniors’ pensions, said Member of Parliament Olivia Chow (Trinity—Spadina).

“Without new investment for Transit City, Toronto property tax payers will have to shoulder the cost of new streetcars and light rail, riders will continue to face excessive wait times for buses and streetcars, and commuters will continue to waste time and energy idling their cars on clogged highways,” said Chow.

“With no new dollars for early childhood education and child care or a national children’s nutritious food program, this budget continues to fail Toronto’s children and working parents. The City of Toronto will be forced to cut child care spaces or hike fees on parents who are already having difficulty paying.”

New Canadians were also left out of this budget, despite a dire need to increase funding for visa offices, said Chow.

“While this government sits on its hands and ignores the problem of under resourced visa offices overseas, families continue to face outrageous wait times to be reunited with their loved ones.”