Why the Budget Cannot Stand

Like many Canadians, I was very curious what Finance Minister Flaherty would announce in his budget.  Would there be anything of substance for Canadian families?  Would there be something for Diamond Aircraft here in London?

The answer was unfortunately no.

There were a few small, minimal items here and there.  So minimal that Mr. Harper spent more in one day of his G20 meeting than he is spending on seniors in this budget.

So why nothing larger?

It’s because the Harper government’s hands are tied by giving $6 billion in tax cuts to large corporations.  Not small businesses, mind you, but large corporations like banks and oil companies. Their tax rates are already 25% less than the rates in the US.  Why is Mr. Harper so anxious to give them more tax cuts? 

These tax cuts are crippling the government’s ability to invest in people. But that’s not all.

The Harper government intends to spend $13 billion on US style mega-prisons and $30 billion on an untendered fighter jet contract.  Just think… $13 billion will pay four years of tuition for 650,000 students. Will our nation be better off with more prisons or with more university graduates?

Health care is going to need more money as baby boomers age.  Post-secondary education is crucial to our economic success.  This government will have nothing left to put into these areas.

Liberals have different priorities.  As Michael Ignatieff has said “We think Canadians want a different kind of Canada. An ambitious Canada. An entrepreneurial, innovative Canada. Where equal opportunity is back at the centre of Canadian life. “

We want to cancel these corporate tax cuts and invest in people. “Jobs, health care and pensions you can count on, affordable post-secondary education and training, support for family caregivers, and child care and early learning for our kids.”

I have not had a single person in London West tell me that we need more prisons and more fighter jets. 

They do tell me that they are worried about their jobs, their financial situation, and making ends meet.  Parents want their children to be well-educated and successful.  Seniors want the dignity of remaining in their homes. Hard working immigrants want the opportunity find employment and build a new life here.

The Harper government is out of touch with Londoners. Liberals cannot support this budget. And we will not support a government that deceives Canadians, breaks the law, and attacks our democracy.

It is time for a change.  It is time for a new government.

Diamond Aircraft Needs Help – Now

I just returned from a visit to Diamond Aircraft, a hidden jewel on Crumlin Road near the airport. With me were Mayor Joe Fontana and my colleagues Glen Pearson MP, Roger Caranci, and John McCallum MP.

In London since 1993, Diamond is the third largest producer of small aircraft in the world. It has enjoyed much success as an industry leader, and provides jobs for hundreds of Londoners.

Diamond has always made propeller-driven planes – until now. Now they have designed and built a new single engine jet plane called the D-Jet. All the research and development for this jet was done right here in London, Ontario. The jet seats 5 and is made of advanced composite materials. It will cost half the price of its nearest competitor.

The success of the D-Jet means hundreds more highly skilled or tech jobs here in London, and more spin-off business for Diamond’s local suppliers. And it is likely that more versions of the D-Jet will be built, with even more jobs to follow.

The plane has been designed, built, and flown. They have an excellent number of orders already in place. Now Diamond needs to ramp up production. That’s where they have hit a roadblock – financing.

The shareholders are putting up a huge amount of their own money, as have private sources. The Province of Ontario is in too. All the pieces are in place – except one: the Government of Canada, or should I more properly say, the Harper Government.

A year ago, Diamond Aircraft requested a $35 million loan from the federal government. They have not yet received an answer.

Not only that, they have been unable to even get a meeting with the minister in charge, Industry Minister Tony Clement.

The proposed funding is a loan that will be backed up by collateral. The government will be fully secured for repayment.

Why the delay? There is no downside – only an upside. This seems like a good news story for London and for Canada, yet the Harper government is dragging its feet.

This is the third time that London has been hurt by decisions of the Harper government. The first was the decision to put the Southern Ontario Development Agency in Kitchener-Waterloo, and not in London. The second was the cancellation (without explanation) of the AIDS vaccine plant that would have been partly financed with tens of millions of dollars by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. And now Diamond Aircraft could be the third strike.

Please get in touch to let me know what you think – doug@dougferguson.ca. What do you think we should do to get this loan done?

The delay so far has been inexcusable. Further delay could have serious consequences for London’s economy.

Listening to Canadians

It was an amazing experience on the evening of March 1, 2011 when Michael Ignatieff and I spent an hour on a virtual town hall speaking directly by telephone to thousands of London West voters.

Unlike Stephen Harper, who does not take questions unless they are scripted in advance, Michael Ignatieff welcomes free-ranging, unscripted conversations with Canadians. I was honoured to have him spend time with us.

Michael and I each spoke for 2-3 minutes, then started taking questions. We took a dozen questions in all, and asked some survey questions.

The questions ranged from energy to home care for seniors to Canadian democracy to our vision for Canada. Many other voters left voice messages with more questions for me. Here is a Liberal Party blog about one voter who asked a question, Gil Fearnall: http://www.liberal.ca/blog/.

I want to sincerely thank all those in London West who took part in the town hall. It shows that you take your civic duties seriously, and I hope you found it useful.

The survey results were very revealing. Here are some results:

Question 1:
What do you think should be the most important priority for the federal government today?

Jobs and the Economy 40%
New Prisons 2%
Health Care 41%
New Fighter Jets 4%
Environment 13%

Question 2:
Stephen Harper has now been Prime Minister for five years. During that time has your own personal quality of life improved, worsened, or stayed the same?

Improved 13%
Worsened 58%
Stayed the Same 29%

Question 2 tells me that people in London West are hurting, either financially or otherwise. A federal government has to address this, and I do not sense that the Harper government is doing so.

The results in Question 1 lead me to believe that the Liberal Party is speaking to the priorities of Canadians generally and London West in particular. We will put people ahead of jails and jets.

The town hall also showed me that those seeking public office need to find new and innovative ways to talk to people and listen to their concerns. This new system works well, and I hope to use it when I am elected.