Mr. Speaker, over the past 30 years dozens of Tory and Liberal politicians kept promising Atlantic Canadians prosperity and economic growth.
This goal was to be achieved by politicians spending billions of tax dollars on regional subsidies. Not only have these programs failed to work, but as a new study by the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies has proven, they have actually hurt Atlantic
Canada. They have slowed growth in the Atlantic economy and increased unemployment.
Furthermore, regional development programs like ACOA have been used as political slush funds by Liberal and Tory governments alike. That is why Reform would end ineffectual regional development programs and instead would offer Atlantic Canadians tax relief, a policy that has been conclusively proven to create jobs and stimulate the economy.
This may mean fewer photo ops for Liberal cabinet ministers but it will mean more real jobs for Atlantic Canadians.