Stephen Harper would like us all to think of him as a tax cutter. The 2% cut in the GST saves me almost 2 cents on a loaf of bread. The 2 cent cut in taxes on diesel fuel will save you two bucks on every hundred dollars worth of gas (only if you drive diesel). The reality is these measures do almost nothing for the average Canadian but they cost the government dearly. In just 2 1/2 years of Tory rule the Federal surplus has dipped from 12 billion to 1.7 billion and the new diesel fuel tax cut will reduce that to $1.1 billion and according to economic forecasts will soon have us back in deficits in any case. Of course we've seen all of this before. Under previous Liberal governments most of that surplus was going to pay down Brian Mulroney's massive debts. You remember Brian Mulroney? He, like George Bush in the U.S. slashed government programs that actually helped people and stimulated the economy, ran up massive government debts and created massive unemployment - then got tossed out on his ear.
That is essentially Stephen Harper's plan. Critical government programs have been cut. Unemployment is rising and will go higher - the 40 million dollar cut to arts exports alone puts 1.1 million jobs at risk, surplus' are turning into deficits, the stock market is tanking and Harper is standing at his podium with pride to tell you about the $5 a month he is going to save you in taxes.
If Stephen Harper gets his way and is able to continue with his plans we will soon arrive at a point where the average Canadian pays no income tax at all - because they won't have jobs. Sadly, it is only at that point that many voters will realize what all of those government programs he slashed were there for and what that extra $5 a month was paying for.
3 comments:
Humm.. Last time I checked ...I didn't pay TAX on BREAD, or the flour either for that matter?
However I am sure if you checked the guy who deliveres the groceries to the store paid lots of tax on the diesel fuel and the guy that picks up your garbage did likewise too!
Conservatives are funny. I talk about a sinking economy, a crashing stock-market, rising unemployment and looming deficits and you are still intently focused on pennies.
The Ontario conservatives called their movement "the Common Sense Revolution" and Conservatives everywhere babble about family values but to me common sense and family values are the two things in which the conservatives are most lacking.
Mr. Harper could save Canada millions of dollars and untold suffering if he were to act on the long overdue reforms to the legal system that have caused so many disgraceful wrongful imprisonments. But given that he has ex Crown Attorney Eugene McDermott running as PC candidate in Don Valley East this is highly unlikely. Harper´s man McDermott was instrumental in the wrongful conviction of Eric R Biddle and is famous internationally for unfair jury selection. At least the Green Party could do something to reform the legal system to prevent more Cases like Anthony Hanemaayer .´´
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