Komarnicki states that Government’s Surplus Bill
nothing more that pre-election window dressing

Ottawa (November 3, 2005) Ed Komarnicki, MP, (Souris-Moose Mountain) stated in the house during the debate on Bill C-67 (An Act respecting the allocation of unanticipated surpluses and to amend the Income Tax Act) that, “the bill is nothing more than a pre-election ploy” and that this Liberal Government is not concerned with the public interest, but rather that it is focused upon, “preserving its own political hide, and that it is attempting to sow seeds toward what will be an imminent election”.

The surplus which this Liberal Government now suggests was ‘unanticipated’ is hardly unanticipated and is not a surprise by any stretch of the imagination. This Government has fully anticipated an annual surplus for the past number of years and the only surprise at this time may be the magnitude of the surplus.

Despite the best efforts of this Liberal Government to misspend money on the Adscam sponsorship scandal, the Dingwall affair, unnecessary severance packages, the Radwonski fiasco, the HRDC loss of 2 billion in loans, the infamously expensive Gun Registry, Andre Ouellet’s (Canada Post) rampant spending, and general departmental waste and excess, the government nonetheless finds itself in the position of having its coffer’s running over with money.

Komarnicki stated that, “What the government fails to understand is that it is not their money, but rather the money taken from the pockets of hard working Canadians.” He stated in his speech in the House of Commons that, “the surplus in the last number of years has become embarrassingly large and the Government knows that the public is upset, especially those members of the public who are running the treadmill attempting to stay alive, trying to make their mortgage, car and loan payments and are barely able to stay ahead.” This situation is unacceptable and there can be no doubt that this government has lost touch with the common people, with the workers and with the farmers of this country.

Ed Komarnicki, MP during his speech brought the dire conditions facing farmers in Saskatchewan to the attention of the House. During Question Period he raised the financial concerns facing grain producers as a result of the low initial prices established by the Canadian Wheat Board. In describing the situation as a ‘crisis’ in the prairies, Komarnicki pointed out that while the liberal Government is celebrating its massive surplus, it has all but ignored what is happening on the prairies. Komarnicki further noted that within the NDP budget of this past spring, there was not even a single mention of the agriculture or farmers.

Komarnicki noted that this Government has been fully aware of the problem with the low CWB initial prices for weeks, yet nothing concrete has been done to address the situation and put money into the hands of our grain producers. Komarnicki stated that the government is holding back money in the thousands of dollars when the farmers need it most and the government does not care. It is galling to see all of the misspending and waste that is taking place under the watch of this Liberal Government. The Government has absolutely no interest in helping an entire industry which is about to disappear in Saskatchewan in a very short time. Komarnicki asked whether the situation on the prairies has to get so severe that the media spotlight will force the Government to pay attention, just as the media did with respect to the recent crisis in Kashechewan. “What is it going to take, a revolt on the prairies” said Komarnicki, “for this Government to take notice.” While we need a long-term plan said Komarnicki, we also need some immediate infusion of cash so farmers can pay their operating expenses.

The Liberal Government is not looking forward and it is not taking any steps to address a crisis. It offers only band-aid solutions from time to time. This Government is not looking at any kind of program that will help farmers and preserve the family farm in their time of need. This is no way to lead a country and cannot be condoned any longer by the people of Canada. The Government introduced Bill C-67 just to save face and to use it as an election gimmick. Komarnicki further noted that, “the money for Bill C-67 comes off the backs of ordinary Canadians and from resources and revenues generated from GST. This is not the government’s money.”

In closing, Komarnicki stated that there is only one solution and that is to clean house by replacing the existing government with one which will reorder the priorities, get back in touch with the common people, and spend the money where it is needed.