Skip to content

‘Prosperity’ budget title ‘not just words’

Two weeks ago, our Conservative government unveiled Budget 2013

Two weeks ago, our Conservative government unveiled Budget 2013, “Canada’s Economic Action Plan for Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity.” The title of Budget 2013 is not just words, rather this is the latest instalment of annual federal budgets that we have been pursuing since the recent global economic recession. As the government, we knew in 2008 that there were going to be difficult economic times ahead for the world, and Canadians workers and their families. The series of annual budgets that we presented since then have been designed to steer Canada through the recession, maintain our position in the global economy, and prepare Canada to be prosperous as the world recovers from the recession and its effects.

Since taking office in 2006, we have: lowered taxes over 150 times (lowering the average family’s tax bill by over $3,200); supported entrepreneurs (lowering taxes on job-creating businesses); opened more markets to Canadian goods with increased trade deals, and much more. During the global recession and recovery, Canada’s economy performed the best among all G-7 countries. Canada has created over 950,000 net new jobs since the depth of the recession, the vast majority being full-time and in the private sector – the best job growth record in the G-7.

In Economic Action Plan 2013, we are launching the largest federal government investment in job-creating infrastructure in Canadian history — $70 billion over 10 years. This investment will help build and repair roads, bridges, subways, rail, and much more in communities across Canada. At the same time, our government’s plan makes common sense changes to the way government is run and the way taxpayers’ money is spent. Not only will those changes help to create a more efficient government, but they will lead the way toward returning to balanced budgets in 2015.

As your member of Parliament, the request that I have heard consistently from the vast majority of us in our riding of Crowfoot is for the federal government to “balance the books” and eliminate the annual budgetary deficit. I am pleased that under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, our Conservative government is steadfast in our commitment to return to surpluses by 2015. The surplus is forecast to be $800 million in 2015.

I remind everyone that between 2006 and 2008, our new Conservative government — working with a balanced budget — managed to pay down Canada’s accumulated national debt by almost $40 billion.

In turn, Canada’s interest payments were reduced and this “freed up” funds to be spent on further debt retirement and program spending.

We will not slash transfers to health care and education services that hard-working Canadians families depend on. Nor will we follow the NDP’s plan for risky tax schemes, like their $21-billion carbon tax, that will raise the price on everything Canadians buy. I encourage everyone to visit actionplan.gc.ca to read Budget 2013.

Crowfoot MP Kevin Sorenson can be reached at 4945—50 Street, Camrose, AB, T4V 1P9, call 780-608-4600, toll-free 1-800-665-4358, fax 780- 608-4603 or email Kevin. Sorenson.c1@parl.gc.ca

— FROM THE HILL