Tories Adopt Grits' Budget Initiative

[FiveParadox]

The Honourable John McCallum, P.C., M.P., the Member for Markham—Unionville and the Finance Critic for Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, has welcomed reports that the Government of Canada has signed agreements with the Provinces of Canada to create third-party trust funds for priorities such as public transit, and post-secondary education.

The Conservative Party of Canada, while in opposition, denounced these sorts of trust funds when they were included in the budget of the previous Government of Canada. Mr. McCallum is surprised that the Conservatives had had this change of heart, but is nonetheless happy with their decision to implement the trust funds.

The five trust funds will provide for post-secondary education infrastructure, off-reserve aboriginal housing, public transit, affordable housing, and foreign aid. Mr. McCallum highlighted the fact that the present Government has inherited the strongest set of books in modern history, and therefore, and in light of this, the budget should contain a vision for the people of Canada to look toward.

Hon. John McCallum[/color], P.C., M.P.,]As finance critic, my primary concern is that the government will commit the $22.5 billion to tax cuts or other initiatives before figuring out the details of the spending cuts — before the money is in the bank. Mr. Flaherty knows this technique well. It was a hallmark of the Mike Harris government, and it was a recipe for Ontario’s continuing deficits.

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:arrow: Government's Turnaround Decision

I am happy to see that the present Government has decided, in light of the fact that they do not have a majority in the House of Commons, to implement an initiative championed by the Liberal Party of Canada. If the Conservatives would continue to co-operate with the other parties, and to acknowledge when they have good ideas, or when the previous Government has done good things in the past, then I think that I would be able to support (though note vote for) this Government for the duration of their mandate.

:?: Sources
1. Click here for the Web site of the Liberal Party of Canada.

 

[FiveParadox]

Yvan Loubier, le député de Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot et le porte-parole du Bloc Québécois en matière de Finances, a demandé au très honourable Stephen Harper, C.P., le député de Calgary-Sud-Ouest et le Premier ministre du Canada, de confirmer si le gouvernement du Canada a transféré trois milliards dollars (+CAD$3 000 000 000) aux fiducies des provinces du Canada. (For a translation, see ¶1.)

Yvan Loubier[/color], M.P.,]Est-ce que le premier ministre peut nous confirmer la création de ces fiducies avec une partie des surplus de l'année 2005-2006? Est-ce que le ministre des Finances y a transféré un montant de 3 milliards $?

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:?: Translation
(¶1) Yvan Loubier, M.P., the Member for Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot and the Finance Critic for the Bloc Québécois, has asked the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P., the Member for Calgary Southwest and the Prime Minister of Canada, to confirm that the Government of Canada has transferred three billion dollars (+CAD$3 000 000 000) to the trust funds of the Provinces of Canada.

:?: Sources
1. Click here for the Web site of the Bloc Québécois.