Question from today’s Question Period (Check Against Delivery): “Mr. Speaker, this Government remains out of touch with the needs of middle class Canadians. In Southern Ontario families are struggling to make ends meet; and even this Government’s favorite so-called economist, - the Prime Minister - says that employment has “flattened recently,” Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Economic Development has spent only $79,000 out of his $177 million budget to stimulate Ontario’s economy this year. When will this Minister acknowledge his inaction plan and do something? And if not, will the Prime Minister replace him with someone who will?” Yesterday’s Question: “Mr. Speaker, the Prime Ministers last-minute change to the agenda of the visiting EU delegation meant that Canadians had to swallow $300,000 to fly the delegation home on a government Airbus. Meanwhile, hard-working families in southern Ontario are struggling to make ends meet, yet the minister of state for economic development is missing in action. Despite a budget of $177 million to help create jobs, the minister has only invested $79,000 this year. When will the minister finally do his job and address the unacceptably high rate of unemployment in southwestern Ontario?” Press release: Harper Government is Short Changing Southern Ontario Government documents show that the 99.96% of FedDev’s funds remain unspent OTTAWA – Today, in the House of Commons, Liberal Critic for Economic Development in Southern Ontario, Arnold Chan, questioned why the Harper Government had only spent $79,000 of the over $177 million that has been earmarked for improving the economic conditions in Southern Ontario. The Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario’s (FedDev) recently released first quarter report shows that while the agency spent over $4.6 million on staff, it only managed to provide grants under one of their programs. “This shows the shocking lack of concern that the Harper Government has for the hardworking families in Southern Ontario,” said Mr. Chan. “Unemployment remains significantly higher in this region than the national average, yet the funds that are desperately needed to spur the economy remain unspent. Minister of State Goodyear remains asleep at the switch.” Today’s revelation comes as both London at 8% and Windsor at 9.5% face significantly higher unemployment rates than the national average. The manufacturing sector, which once was the heart of the Ontario economy, has struggled to regain its footing after the 2008 economic slowdown. “With so many families struggling to make ends meet and so many new and young Canadians finding it harder and harder to find a job, it is disappointing to see that the Harper Government would not invest in the region’s future,” said Mr. Chan. “Investing in businesses that create jobs is at the very core of what it means to be a Liberal. Just last week Justin Trudeau proposed a change to the EI system that would create 177,000 new jobs.” “While Minister of State Goodyear continues to make announcements at a record pace, the numbers show that he is not delivering results for the hardworking middle class families of Southern Ontario.” Arnold Chan, MP
Posted on: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 21:19:11 +0000
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