Mr. Speaker, today, the finance minister had another photo op that contained no new economic initiatives.
After five years of Conservative government, this is the economic reality that Canadians are familiar with: household debt is at record levels; 150,000 high-paying full-time jobs have been lost; and the unemployment rate is 1.9% higher today.
The Conservatives' imminent $13 billion employment insurance tax hike will cost Canada 220,000 jobs.
The Conservatives put Canada into deficit even before the recession began by being the biggest spenders. Canada's deficit apparently stands at $54 billion, higher than it has ever been in the history of our country.
If the Conservatives stay the course, they will bankrupt this country.