For Immediate Release December 28, 2006

Reflections on 2006 by Ed Komarnicki MP

Ed Komarnicki Member of Parliament for Souris Moose Mountain summarized the 2006 parliamentary session as a show of strong leadership by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in the face of some rather difficult circumstances. “No doubt there were also a few bumps in the road” said Komarnicki “but all in all I think the public is pleased with the level of determination and focus shown by our Prime Minister on key issues that are important to Canadians.”

Some of the big picture issues include a reduction of 2 billion dollars in program spending, a paydown of 13.5 billion in debt and a guarantee to apply interest, in this case 660 million, to a reduction in taxes. The tax reduction guarantee will continue on a like bases from year to year.

The income trust decision was unpopular to some especially those heavily invested in income trusts but many heralded the decision as one that had to be made. This decision was tempered by allowing seniors to split pension income with their spouses and transitional rules that will provide options to soften potential tax consequences.

Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl made many improvements to the agriculture program and although much more needs to be done the announcement to move into the biofuels field by setting a national 5 percent biofuel standard in gasoline and a 2 percent standard in diesel along with substantial capital formation assistance grants may be the shot in the arm western farmers need. My hope is that the spring budget will further enhance farmer participation.

Understandably farmers have been divided on the future role of the Canadian Wheat Board, the steps taken by the Agriculture Minister with respect to the Wheat Board, the government’s representation on the Board as well as the office of the CEO. “It would appear that change of some sort is inevitable” said Komarnicki “but in my view any substantive change should be farmer driven.” Those changes can occur both inside and outside the Board. Although the Board has been reacting to the need for change it has not met the expectations of many farmers. In the end after much debate a plebiscite will be held to determine whether the Board’s sole marketing authority respecting barley sales should change. “Beyond that any change in my view must be such that farmers are convinced will result in more dollars added to their bottom line.” said Komarnicki.

I find it difficult to accept that the official Liberal opposition, the Bloc and the NDP opposed a Private Members Bill that would allow producers to deliver product directly to processing plants outside of the Wheat Board and without the need to pay shipping costs to the west coast or other type of fee. It is interesting that those opposing such a move already have that privilege not only in Ontario and Quebec but in the Maritimes as well.

In the end it is fair to say the Conservative Harper government has been on the move with some major initiatives that Canadians as a whole I think will find acceptable. It is a basket of initiatives that will slowly but surely change the direction of this great country we call Canada. These include a 8 year term limit on senators, senate elections, fixed election terms of 4 years, a payment of $100.00 per child under six, a GST reduction from 7 to 6%, a get tough on crime agenda that focuses on pedophiles and repeat offenders, raises the age of consent from 14 to 16 and hands out stiffer penalties for serious crime. The overall agenda allows for more accountability in government affairs, more tax incentives for the trades and tax reductions for all Canadians something that is long overdue.

“All in all not a bad year,” said Komarnicki “with an aggressive agenda and one that sets the tone for all parties on a go forward bases.”