December 18, 2009
A Year in Review by
Ed Komarnicki, M.P.
Estevan (December 18, 2009)— We have come through a rather tumultuous year. The economy underwent a great deal of stress that hardly anyone could have predicted where the very foundations were tested and in some cases shaken. The International Monetary Fund, the OECD as well as others said Canada has faired better than most and that Canada’s economy should be on its way to recovery. But, even the most optimistic realize that the economic recovery is fragile and needs continuing attention.
After having paid down approximately $38 billion dollars of debt during the good years our government introduced Canada’s Economic Action Plan committing billions of dollars and covering more than 12,000 infrastructure and housing projects throughout Canada over a 2 year period.
We have reduced the tax burden for Canadian families and businesses, supported workers who have lost their jobs or were laid off, created jobs through investment in modern infrastructure that will be of value for years to come, supported research and advanced education and most importantly we took unprecedented action to improve the availability of financing for households and businesses in Canada.
Our efforts are having a positive effect and we are seeing stabilization of the economy. Canada’s unemployment rate is well below that in the U.S. – marking the largest gap in a generation. The OECD projected that Canada will have the second strongest economic growth among G-7 countries in 2010 and the strongest G-7 growth in 2011. Consumer and business confidence has recovered sharply since the beginning of the year, private spending on consumer and investment goods has rebounded strongly in recent months and residential investment has rebounded since March. Government capital investment has increased almost 25% in the 3rd quarter of this year – the largest increase in a decade.
There is no doubt that as the economy recovers we should focus on spending growth restraint, slowing the growth of direct program spending in future years to ensure balanced budgets and planning to eliminate the deficit. What we should not have is drastic spending cuts or an increase to taxes something the opposition parties are likely to do.
As a government we have moved on some very popular measures. We introduced the Home Renovation Tax Credit, special benefits including maternity, parental, sickness and compassionate care benefits to the self employed, cracked down on identity theft, stopped criminals from exploiting loopholes in the justice system by ending the practice of getting 2 for 1 or 3 for 1 credit for time served either before or during their trial and introduced legislation protecting our vulnerable children and cracked down on child pornography.
We’re opening up opportunities for Canadian business by negotiating Free Trade agreements, opening doors in China and India and pursuing other international business opportunities.
We’re protecting consumers and helping to keep our families safe and healthy by introducing tough new legislation on consumer product safety, taking steps to protect the safety of Canada’s food supply and defending families against unfair financial practices by introducing a new code of conduct for the Canadian credit and debit card industry.
Something that is very popular to the Souris-Moose Mountain constituency is the introduction of legislation to scrap the long gun registry once and for all and ensuring continued access to rural postal delivery with a new Service Charter for Canada Post which protects postal service to rural regions.
We have seen an incredible amount of stimulus spending in the constituency of Souris-Moose Mountain for things like water and sewer system upgrades, roads, bridges, recreation centers and more.
Major Infrastructure Investments in Souris-Moose
Mountain included a commitment of
$7,092,500 million to the South East Regional College Energy
Training Institute, $1,580,670 for 13 Recreation Infrastructure
Canada Programs, $12, 650,652 million for 11 Building Canada
fund projects, $3,828,754 million for 12 infrastructure Stimulus
Fund projects, in excess of $13 million for the Estevan Truck
bypass, up to $13.72 million investment in NorAmera’s
Ethanol Plant and doubling of the Gas Tax to municipalities.
We saw the country almost plunge into another election Canadians didn’t want by the ill advised Ignatieff quest to become Prime Minister, following the attempted coup by the Liberal, NDP, BLOC Coalition agreement to take over government.
All in all it’s been a busy and action filled year. I look forward to the challenges 2010 may bring and again wish to thank you the constituents of Souris-Moose Mountain for giving me the opportunity to serve as your representative. The best to all of you in 2010.
