By Colleen Beaumier, Liberal candidate for Bramp
Since 1988 Canada has lost millions of jobs as a result of the Mulroney Free Trade Agreement and a mismanaged economy. This is evident in vacant store fronts and factories as well as the number of houses listed as “power of sale.” We expected an initial loss of jobs, but we were given promises of retraining and adjustment programs. We were not told to expect to be less competitive in the global economy as a result of the G S$ T, an inflated Canadian dollar and high interest rates. Conservative fiscal policy has simply not addressed the specific problems in economic restructuring, but instead has put special interests before public interests. And in Brampton the losses grow as Northern Telecom announces another massive lay off. Northern, a high tech Canadian communication industry is now investing its “made in Canada” money into its plant in Georgia.
Kim Campbell’s new Minister of Finance told Canadians that employment and jobs will not be a top priority with a new Conservative government, Jean Chretien and the Liberals know that unemployment not only affects our community’s income; it wounds our pride and spirit. It reduces our self-worth and robs our children of hope fora bright future. Not since the great depression has Canadian morale been so low.
Kim Campbell’s Conservatives must stop blaming Canada’s economic woes on previous governments. The Conservatives have been in power for the last nine years and they must be account able.
Jean Chretien docs not speak of levels of “sustainable unemployment.” He does not say let’s wait and see. He knows that the Tory policies of supply and demand do not work when people are not working. The Liberal team has a well laid out plan to help get the economy moving again. A common sense plan that will work,
The economy needs a Pakistan. It will begin to grow when all Jewels of government cooperate, along with the private sector, to get people back to work. Liberal policy will ensure that the financial institutions make loans to small and medium sized businesses more accessible and affordable,
A Liberal government will cooperate with both Provincial and Municipal governments by financing one third of the cost of infra-structure projects.
More monies will go to research and development. In order to en sure that the results of this research has practical and market able applications the money will be distributed to projects funded 50% by the private sector.
Training and apprenticeship programs in cooperation with industry and the province are another policy of a Liberal government,
With all this talk of cut backs and restraint, where will we get the funding? Canadians are already overburdened with high taxes. The key is to re prioritize the spending of the government, Cancellation of the helicopter deal is a good start. A $5.96 billion start, Advertising designed to sell Canadians legislation that we do not want, will be another obvious cut. It won’t be easy, but it can be done, Jean Chretien has integrity and the experience (6 put Canadians back to work,
Comments to Colleen Beaumier can be sent to her at:
Colleen Beaumier’s Campaign Headquarters 28 Kennedy Road South, Unit 10 Brampton, ON L6W 3E1 Phone # (416) 4558288 Fax # (416) 4555488
Article extracted from this publication >> September 3, 1993
