House of Commons photoLost her last election, in 2015, with 32% of the vote.
The Economy September 22nd, 2011
Mr. Speaker, the government's inability to effectively manage the economy puts Canada at greater risk of a recession. The markets are tanking. Scotiabank, Moody's and the IMF have issued serious warnings to the government. Unfortunately, the Conservatives are not heeding these warnings. They refuse to see that there is a difference between spending and investing. It is time to invest. It is not time to cut services.
When will the Prime Minister realize this?
The Economy September 21st, 2011
Mr. Speaker, the minister needs to open his eyes.
Scotiabank is saying that we are on the verge of a recession. Moody's is saying that households are carrying too much debt. The IMF revised Canada's economic outlook downward. It is not the NDP that is saying these things. It is his friends. Inflation is way up, which will hurt the poor and the middle class and slow the economy down even further.
Is the minister aware of this?
The Economy September 21st, 2011
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives' policies have widened the gap between the rich and the middle class. The poverty level is rising. The unemployment rate is rising. The minister can play with the numbers, but the truth is that in order for Canada to achieve the same level of employment that we had before the recession in 2008, we need 420,000 more jobs. That is the reality.
Why is the minister pleased to see that 2 million Canadians are out of work?
The Economy September 21st, 2011
Mr. Speaker, the finance minister says that we are okay because we are not doing as badly as the others. That is not good enough.
This week's dismal report of the Canadian economy by the IMF should be a wake-up call. How can the Conservatives pretend the IMF report was good news? How can they brag about doing well when between 1.5 and 2 million Canadians are out of work?
The Economy September 20th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives' economic action plan is simply not working. The unemployment rate went up last month. Canada is on the brink of another recession. The gap between the rich and the poor keeps growing. Yesterday the Prime Minister showed that he not only does not understand the principle of social justice, but he refuses to see the economic dangers on the horizon, as they were in 2008.
When will he open his eyes and take action?
The Economy September 20th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, there is more bad economic news. The Conference Board of Canada dropped Canada's rating on income equality. The middle class is falling further behind. Inequality has increased in the past 10 years. Surprise, surprise; it is the same 10 years of the big tax cuts for big corporations.
Is this not another example of the Conservatives' economic inaction plan?
The Economy September 20th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, unlike the Conservative government, President Obama gets it. He knows that his government has to invest in the economy because the private sector is not doing so. The same is true here in Canada. The Conservatives are making bad choices. The tax cuts for big corporations and big banks have not created jobs.
Why is the government refusing to face facts and accept that it is up to the government to stimulate the economy and create jobs?
The Economy September 19th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister created a structural deficit by giving the gift of tax cuts to big business, and he has not changed course. Contrary to what he says, these companies are not investing and are not creating jobs. A full $500 billion is sitting in corporate coffers and could be used to create jobs. The Conservative strategy does not work.
Where are the investments? Where are the jobs?
The Economy September 19th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, last month, unemployment rose in Canada. Our economy shed over 5,000 more jobs.
More and more Canadians are giving up because of the lack of job opportunities. To reach the same proportion of working Canadians as before the recession, we actually need to create 420,000 new jobs.
Canadians need a job strategy now. Where is the job plan?
The Economy September 19th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is still looking at the economy through rose-coloured glasses. Just as in 2008, he is refusing to see the signs. Scotiabank is warning that Canada is on the verge of another recession. Moody's is sounding the alarm about household debt. Investments are down and the government's solution is to slash services.
When will the Prime Minister take action to create jobs and avoid another economic crisis?