March 22 is the day our government will unveil Budget 2011, the next phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. We know that Prime Minister Harper is focused on keeping Canada’s economy growing and creating jobs for hard-working Canadians.
Budget 2009, was our government’s plan to combat the effects of the global economic crisis that was about to reach Canadian shores. In the lead-up to that budget, our government embarked on the largest-ever pre-budget consultation process in Canadian history. As the government, we needed to hear from all the business sectors of Canada’s economy, all regions of our nation, all industries, organizations and individuals. We needed everyone to advise the federal government on what it would take to stare-down the coming economic recession.
Budget 2010 followed through on our government’s unprecedented efforts to save jobs and create jobs sector-by-sector and region-by-region across Canada during the recession. We continued working closely with local communities building infrastructure that will last beyond the next generation.
The latest figures show that all of the economic output and jobs lost during the recession have been recovered. In fact, more than 465,000 jobs have been created since July 2009, more than offsetting all of the jobs lost during the recession.
With the global economic recovery still fragile, our government remains focused on creating jobs and economic growth for Canadians.
As your Member of Parliament, I can report that we can be proud of our efforts throughout this process. During the past few years, I have held numerous town hall meetings; satellite constituency office days in all corners of the riding; and conducted a number of surveys. I have delivered our message to my cabinet colleagues in Ottawa every step of the way. Your responses to my MP surveys are remarkable. There are always good suggestions and dialogue at our meetings. The emails, cards and letters that my constituents send me are always thoughtful and informative.
We want to keep Canada’s fiscal house in order. We want to eliminate the budgetary deficit. We want to be paying down the accumulated national debt - like we did from Budget 2006 until the global crisis struck. Our government will not be raising taxes to accomplish these goals and we will not be shutting down valued social programs.
I hope everyone takes a few moments to study the proposals in Budget 2011, which is coming to www.fin.gc.ca and www.kevinsorenson.ca on March 22.
