TORONTO – Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff today shared his economic vision for creating long term economic growth through strategic, targeted investments in the new economy and revitalizing Canada’s industrial heartland.
“Recovery isn’t good enough,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “We need to get this economy growing again.”
In a speech full of policy commitments to a sold out audience at the Toronto Board of Trade, Mr. Ignatieff called for government to lead Canada through the global economic restructuring by championing Canadian business and technology, investing in people in every region, and “going where the growth is” to open up new international markets. The Liberal Leader committed to the following:
Champion Canadian business and technology
• Improve upon Canada’s 13 out of 30 ranking in research and development by driving strategic investment to job-creating innovation throughout the economy, including clean energy, high-tech, advanced manufacturing, health sciences, forestry and farming.
• Support manufacturing research and commercialization to help businesses get new technologies to the factory floor and bring new products to market
• Investing in clean energy research and renewables to become the most efficient users of energy in the world
• Stand up for flagship Canadian companies, technology and jobs with an investment review process that guarantees our national interests
Invest in people and communities in every region
• Increase the gas transfer to flow money directly to municipalities, relieving pressure on property taxes, and enabling cities and towns to invest in transit and water systems
• Support the success of rural, remote and northern communities by completing Canada’s broadband network and building roads and bridges
• Create incentives for small and medium businesses to hire and train workers
Open new international markets
• Re-establish Team Canada missions to India and to China to reverse our shrinking exports to these growing markets
• Enhance the commitment to the Atlantic and Pacific trade gateways and key border crossings to improve our export performance
• Provide federal leadership to engage the United States at all levels to bring down non-tariff barriers such as Country of Origin Labelling that are costing Canadian beef and pork producers their livelihoods
In addition, Mr. Ignatieff said that a Liberal government would put forward balanced, prudent and transparent plan to get Canada’s finances back in order, starting by opening the books with a full audit and making the Parliamentary Budget Officer independent.
“Canada prospers when Canada leads,” concluded Mr. Ignatieff. “We can do more than just recover. We can launch Canada forward, toward a better future.”
