This month, the government officially tabled its second budget implementation bill, C-45 Jobs and Growth 2012. Our government understands for Canadians to be prosperous, we need a strong and stable economy. That’s why economic growth has been and will remain our top priority.
This legislation implements key measures from Economic Action Plan 2012 that will help grow the Canadian economy, support job creation and secure our long-term prosperity. This includes the popular Hiring Credit for Small Business that gives employers an incentive to hire new workers by giving them a break on their EI payments for each new employee.
It also includes changes to MPs pensions. These changes will see pensions fall more in line with the private sector by moving toward a 50-50 cost sharing model and pushing back the age of eligibility to 65. Over the next five years these changes along with similar adjustments to the public service pensions will save taxpayers $2.6 billion.
These types of measures will help us stay on the right track despite ongoing global economic uncertainty. Through our Economic Action Plan we have helped the Canadian economy grow over 820,000 net new jobs since July 2009, the best job creation record in the G7. This legislation will keep Canada’s economy on the right track.
This Conservative government is spending taxpayer dollars responsibly and efficiently to continue our economic success and reduce our deficit. The results speak for themselves: since July 2009 our debt-to-GDP ratio is the lowest in the G7 and our deficit is half of what it was two years ago.
Unfortunately, while the government continues to support economic growth, the NDP is focused on promoting their $21 billion carbon tax. This tax would not only take money out of the pockets of hardworking Canadians but kill jobs and cripple businesses. We will always be against job-killing tax increases that will hinder Canadians. Our government will stay on track and support economic growth and work towards a balanced budget.
Please contact my constituency office if you have any questions or concerns on any federally related matters, postage free, at: Bay #6A, 4612 - 50th Street, Ponoka, T4J 1S7 AB; tel: 403-783-5530; toll free: 1-800-665-0865 or visit my web site: www.blainecalkinsmp.ca or on twitter at www.twitter.com/blainecalkinsmp