Budget amendment will require first progress report in 60 days
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff today announced he will require the Conservative government to accept mandatory reporting requirements in order for the budget to be adopted. The first comprehensive report on progress on the economy will be required by March 26, 2009.
“The budget introduced yesterday is far from perfect. It does not fix the employment insurance system for thousands of workers who have lost their jobs in the past several weeks. It still threatens pay equity for women. It breaks their promise to every province from only two years ago on equalization,” said Mr. Ignatieff.
“To say that action is long overdue is an understatement. Canadians deserve action. I believe it is in the best interests of Canadians that parliamentarians get to work on the economy, so I will move to amend the budget and include a requirement that the Government report back to the House of Commons repeatedly, with the first report being required within 60 days on their progress. Mr. Harper must accept these accountability measures or his Government will fall.”
“We’re in this position because of choices made by a government that has systematically mismanaged our public finances for the last three years,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “For Canadians, this crisis isn’t about structural deficits or loan guarantees or the business cycle. It’s about the nest egg they’ve saved up over their entire working lives, only to see it cut in half overnight. It’s about worrying about how they’ll pay for their kids’ education, or how they’ll put food on the table for their families. The country needs stability in this time of economic difficulty and that is why I am taking this action.”
“This government’s mismanagement of the economic crisis and failure to act has rightfully given Parliament – and Canadians – a reason to question the credibility of this government on economic matters,” added Mr. Ignatieff. “We are ready to act in the national interest, as the gravity of this economic crisis demands. I hope Mr. Harper is prepared to do the same.”
To read the full text of Mr. Ignatieff’s statement, click here.
