Next Prime Minister in Canada
I vote for Steven Harper
| quote: | Monday, April 05, 2004
(TRURO, N.S.) Opposition Leader Stephen Harper today, in a major economic speech, challenged the Prime Minister to come clean with his fiscal projections, and outlined six principles on which a Conservative economic plan will be based.
“This government’s fiscal dishonesty is symbolized by its latest budget,” said Harper. “This is apparent by the systematic underestimating of the federal surplus. Padded spending estimates have allowed this government to disguise waste, mismanagement and corruption. It is time for Paul Martin to come clean.”
“Paul Martin can’t have it both ways,” stated Harper. “He claims to have had a tight rein on spending, but hasn’t implemented even the most elementary spending control mechanisms. He claims to have reformed government programs, and to have eliminated waste and abuse, but he says that he had no idea that $100 million was shoveled into the hands of Liberal friendly advertising firms.”
“The sad irony of Liberal financial management is that spending continues to be ramped up each year, yet the only Canadians who seem to benefit are those who are friends of the Liberal Party,” commented Harper. “Our elderly are waiting longer for medical services, our students are paying higher tuition, our armed forces are watching their equipment decay, and our communities are watching their infrastructure crumble.”
Harper also outlined the six principles on which the Conservative economic plan will be based, which are:
Honest surplus forecast assessments;
Targeted spending in areas that are of the highest priority to Canadians, including national defence and security, and compensation for our agriculture and forestry communities;
Additional funding for health care that is accompanied by objectives and performance measures;
Legislated debt pay down to meet specific targets;
Low tax, rather than high spending solutions, to public policy issues; and,
Tax reduction funded by eliminating government waste and mismanagement.
“We believe that honest and transparent government is the only way to fully address the priorities of Canadians. Today, we have shown why the Conservative Party can be trusted to ensure that Canadians’ priorities reach fruition,” concluded Harper.
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Last edited by Bronze on Apr-15-2004 at 08:08
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