Opposition leader Thomas Mulcair questioned the government’s economic contingency plans should the global financial crisis deepen further after his party’s weekly caucus meeting on Wednesday.
“In 2008, everyone was taken a bit by surprise by the worst recession since the 1920s,” Mulcair said. “This time we’re facing a situation that everyone understands could be very difficult. So what’s the plan from the Conservatives? We have no indication.”
Mulcair’s comments came after the CBC aired an interview with Prime Minister Stephen Harper Tuesday night.
In the interview, Harper told Peter Mansbridge that while Canada’s banking system remains strong, “We are exposed to others who are themselves exposed to others who are themselves exposed to those problems. And so if the thing gets big enough, it’s going to affect everybody.”
Harper said he was “concerned.”
“We’re in a global economy that has been recovering and that recovery is very fragile. I keep saying that… It’s not just a mantra: We are in a fragile situation, it is more fragile now,” he said. “And we’re getting increasingly to the stage where short-term solutions are not going to be sufficient.”
Mulcair wondered on Wednesday what the government had in mind in order to prevent Canada from being severely effected should the crisis deepen. However, when reporters asked what the prime minister’s plan should be, Mulcair did not offer any specifics.
“I’d like to see what the government is planning to do if indeed we are faced with a crisis, as seems to be quite possible in Europe,” he said. “We’ve been talking to them about that for a year.”
The New Democrats hammered the Conservatives in question period Tuesday over ministerial spending during trips to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum in 2011. They charged that finance finister Jim Flaherty, then-international trade minister Peter Van Loan, and then-industry minister Tony Clement racked up over $23,000 in limousine services during the conference.
The Conservatives staunchly defended the expenses. Van Loan told the House Tuesday “Davos is an opportunity where those who are looking to invest, those who are looking to create jobs around the world have an opportunity to meet.”
Van Loan said the government will “make no apologies for being there to make sure that those who want to invest, those who want to see economic growth, those who are looking for the best place in the world to invest.”
Wednesday, Mulcair brought up the subject again.
“The Conservatives love to go to Davos and brag and say our banking system is this and our economy is that, but the simple fact of the matter is we are in an interconnected world, so what positive measures is the government planning to take?” he asked. “That’s what we’d like to hear from Stephen Harper. What’s his plan?”
Original Article
Source: ipolitics
Author: Colin Horgan
“In 2008, everyone was taken a bit by surprise by the worst recession since the 1920s,” Mulcair said. “This time we’re facing a situation that everyone understands could be very difficult. So what’s the plan from the Conservatives? We have no indication.”
Mulcair’s comments came after the CBC aired an interview with Prime Minister Stephen Harper Tuesday night.
In the interview, Harper told Peter Mansbridge that while Canada’s banking system remains strong, “We are exposed to others who are themselves exposed to others who are themselves exposed to those problems. And so if the thing gets big enough, it’s going to affect everybody.”
Harper said he was “concerned.”
“We’re in a global economy that has been recovering and that recovery is very fragile. I keep saying that… It’s not just a mantra: We are in a fragile situation, it is more fragile now,” he said. “And we’re getting increasingly to the stage where short-term solutions are not going to be sufficient.”
Mulcair wondered on Wednesday what the government had in mind in order to prevent Canada from being severely effected should the crisis deepen. However, when reporters asked what the prime minister’s plan should be, Mulcair did not offer any specifics.
“I’d like to see what the government is planning to do if indeed we are faced with a crisis, as seems to be quite possible in Europe,” he said. “We’ve been talking to them about that for a year.”
The New Democrats hammered the Conservatives in question period Tuesday over ministerial spending during trips to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum in 2011. They charged that finance finister Jim Flaherty, then-international trade minister Peter Van Loan, and then-industry minister Tony Clement racked up over $23,000 in limousine services during the conference.
The Conservatives staunchly defended the expenses. Van Loan told the House Tuesday “Davos is an opportunity where those who are looking to invest, those who are looking to create jobs around the world have an opportunity to meet.”
Van Loan said the government will “make no apologies for being there to make sure that those who want to invest, those who want to see economic growth, those who are looking for the best place in the world to invest.”
Wednesday, Mulcair brought up the subject again.
“The Conservatives love to go to Davos and brag and say our banking system is this and our economy is that, but the simple fact of the matter is we are in an interconnected world, so what positive measures is the government planning to take?” he asked. “That’s what we’d like to hear from Stephen Harper. What’s his plan?”
Original Article
Source: ipolitics
Author: Colin Horgan
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