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Responses of:
• James Arruda (Green Party, Willowdale) • Akil Sadikali (NDP, Don Valley North) • Yasmin Ratansi (Liberal, Don Valley East) • Rob Oliphant (Liberal, Don Valley West)
To questions of Catholic Voice; forum of 13 September 2015 at St Bonaventure Church, Leslie Street, Toronto.
======The Common Good ======
THE ENVIRONMENT:
8.1 There is general consensus among the credible scientific community that climate change has reached the point of crisis. What steps does your party propose to take in order to combat climate change ?
ROB OLIPHANT, LIBERAL, DON VALLEY WEST
I think is the most important question we are facing in this world. I commend the Catholic Community. The Papal Encyclical ,“Laudato Si”, is one of the most far reaching, not only for me in the faith organization, but for the whole civil society to look at issues of consumerism, pollution, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, and our lifestyle. It is a brilliant document that guides us very profoundly around the world. What it says is that the planet earth needs to be cared for in a way that we are not caring for it.
The Liberal Party has submitted a number of platform issues, a 30 page document, re reducing greenhouse gases and preparing for the conference in Paris, in a way that brings people together and reaffirms Canada’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gases.
We don’t do this alone. As a Federal Government, what we need to do is to bring together the Provinces and municipalities to look at what is an appropriate price on carbon, and move ahead to say that the climate change issue is one of our number one issues.
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Asthma is an increasing problem because of pollution in the environment, and we need to stop that and I’ll take that with me to Ottawa.
AKIL SADIKALI, NDP, DON VALLEY NORTH:
As a student at University of Calgary, I approached the University and suggested that we shut down computer labs on weekends to conserve energy, and the response was it’s too much work, it ruins the computer, etc. There was hesitation and denial of having any responsibility for it.
From a personal perspective I have always thought we should use our resources wisely. NDP’s favours of a cap and trade system. Ontario, Quebec and California are proposing it and Alberta may adopt it as well.
It’s important to recognize that the effects of Climate Change affects the poor more.
We signed the Protocol under Jean Chretien and that Liberal Government had the mandate and ignored anything to do with climate. To say the Conservatives are doing anything about climate change is “rich”.
JAMES ARRUDA, GREEN – WILLOWDALE:
The Greens are the ones who wanted to do something about Climate Change. It’s coming, we need to prepare for it, we need better teams on the coast and central Canada in case there are disasters. We also need to define refugees, but also environmental refugees. Because of our economy and industries we have complicity. Our vision as the Green Party, is to halt expansion of the tar sands. We want to get rid of the pipelines, and instead of exporting all of our bitumen we want to make sure it can be refined here. It is a strategy that could create jobs, to make sure that we are not impacting the climate with this.
YASMIN RATANSI, LIBERAL, DON VALLEY EAST
Climate change is affecting a lot of countries. If you go off the coast of E. Africa, they can’t fish. If you go to Sub-Saharan Africa, it is arid land and we are responsible throughout. It’s a global
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responsibility. Kyoto was established by Jean Chretien and we did work with Provinces, working internationally, with Mexico, and the U.S. trying to get leaders to take responsibility. Before COP 20 when Mr. Dion became the leader of the party we had our Green plan. But it’s fear mongering that will cost us. It is a collective responsibility of all of us to ensure that we take Climate Change seriously.
So what is the party doing? We are going to attend the Paris Conference. We are going to work with first Ministers, because you can’t do it alone. We are going to make sure that we have less reliance on fossil fuels.
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11.1 For many years Canada has enjoyed a reputation as a global \peacekeeper. What, if anything can be done to restore that reputation?
ROB OLIPHANT, LIBERAL, DON VALLEY WEST
When I was an MP I was critic for Veterans Affairs for a year. I talked to veterans across the country and who said the proudest moments in their career, serving Canadians, was when they wore the blue berets, as part of peacekeeping missions, creating a better world for everyone. We need to return to that but also need to understand the conditions behind those wars – That’s what Mr. Harper has failed to do. To recognize behind most wars are issues of poverty, lack of development, lack of concern and education. Canada needs to reclaim its position. We lost having a Minister of CIDA, in National Development, which has been subsumed into Foreign Affairs. We need to reclaim that. CIDA needs to have an important place at the table. Development needs to be about them; not about us. We need to do things because we believe that this globe is one planet.
AKIL SADIKALI, NDP, DON VALLEY NORTH:
It’s unfortunate that we don’t have the Conservatives here to respond to this, as it is really a question for them. The NDP has a very clear position on this issue. We are against all these global wars and I personally have been against these wars for many years. When the first Gulf War happened in 1991, my family was among the few people who protested at City Hall. It is clear now that the involvement in the middle East has just got to end. It is causing misery and havoc to millions of people, caused death to untold numbers. We have to return to our peacekeeping roots. We have been peacekeepers in many parts of the world. We went into Bosnia and tried to minimize casualties and suffering and that is what we need to do, and to stop the militarization of the world.
JAMES ARRUDA, GREEN – WILLOWDALE:
We need to stop looking outward, and start looking inward. But looking outward we have damaged so many communities. There are people who have to leave their homes and their families and the whole European Union having to take care of that. What needs to happen is that we need to come back to our peacekeeping roots. This is one of the visions of the Green
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Party. We need to focus less on what NATO wants and more on what the International community needs, more on peacekeeping objectives of the UN.
YASMIN RATANSI:
A Liberal government will make its commitment to participate with the UN or fund the Peacekeeping mission. It was a Liberal Prime Minister, Lester B. Pearson, who started the peacekeeping process. I wish Conservatives candidates were here; they should be participating in this process. Peace is important. You cannot say you are going to Bomb ISIS. Does ISIS carry a flag with it? It doesn’t. You are bombing people out of their homes and lands, and creating undue misery. It’s time we took responsibility for our actions. We have to come back to our peacekeeping roots. We have to facilitate. We cannot allow any country to take a unilateral decision, like the U.S. did, to get into Iraq. That’s not our job; our job is to facilitate peace. Because if we start bombing other countries than we are responsible for the refugees.
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3.1 The United Nations has criticized the Canadian Government’s treatment of First Nations. How, in your view, should Canada respond? And
3.2 What if anything, should happen in response to the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission?
ROB OLIPHANT, LIBERAL, DON VALLEY WEST
Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party have said they will implement every recommendation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It will take time, but we will engage in cultural communication with every community.
We will work on the UN declaration on rights of Aboriginals – something Harper refused to do.
There are 1,017 murdered aboriginal women in Canada; 164 missing Aboriginal women; 225 unresolved cases involving murdered or missing aboriginal women. St. Augustine’s Church regularly posts signs with the number of murdered aboriginal women in Canada.
This is not just a criminal issue it is a social justice issue, and a faith issue. We must get involved in this, take full responsibility to help our country grow out of this.
AKIL SADIKALI, NDP, DON VALLEY NORTH:
This issue of aboriginal mistreatment doesn’t just start with the UN observations. It took many years and many governments to ignore the problem and ignore dealing with it. For Justin Trudeau and Liberals to say they are going to do something – I don’t think it is trustworthy. The toxic relationship we have with aboriginal people is not going to be solved either by the Conservatives of the Liberals. It’s time for new ideas in Government, for change in Ottawa and a change in attitude towards aboriginal people.
We have a $10M budget in Aboriginal Affairs and some of the conditions in communities are horrific. It’s impossible for me to understand how governments can say “I talked with this Minister and he said things everything is going on and things are working themselves out”- ridiculous to say that we can accept what is going on in some of these communities.
NDP has mentioned throughout that we will implement every TRC recommendations.
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JAMES ARRUDA, GREEN – WILLOWDALE
We need to implement TRC recommendations; they’re pretty obvious. It is part of our history and we can’t forget that. Past governments have put kids into Residential schools. During the 1960’s kids were taken away from their mothers because Social Services thought it would be best for the indigenous woman.
All of these issues need not to be forgotten, but must be taken into account that we are a country that is on indigenous lands. We have to understand that there are territories that should be shared but we need to respect the land and finally have nation-to-nation relationships;
We need to ask communities for their consent on what they want to happen on the lands. Otherwise Canada will simply be spending money in courts. As Canadians that shouldn’t be happening, we should be having a better relationship with our own aboriginal people.
YASMIN RATANSI, LIBERAL, DON VALLEY EAST
Reconciliation starts with recognizing Aboriginal treaties, their lands, and culture. We have been remiss in that area. It took White Papers on Aboriginal Affairs and the cost of doing nothing. There are so many papers.
I sat on the Public Accounts Committee, and every time we questioned at the Deputy Ministers meetings, why they hadn’t implemented certain things, they would go in circles. It was as though aboriginal issues didn’t mean anything.
Paul Martin sat down with Aboriginal leaders and drew up the Kelowna Accord. This was a consultation with aboriginal communities, not a top-down approach. Sadly, it was not implemented. Harper destroyed it, because he didn’t believe in it. But it was the NDP that went along with him to ensure that the Accord got destroyed.
I think it’s important that when we are talking, we must be committed to doing the right thing.
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5.3 In presenting its millennium development goals, the United Nations has reported that divisions between rich and poor are widening across the world, including Canada. What can or should the government of Canada do to address that widening gap, and ensure fair and equitable opportunities for all Canadians, including future generations of Canadians, newcomers and those on the margins of society?
ROB OLIPHANT, LIBERAL, DON VALLEY WEST
We have income disparities within cities, provinces and within Canada. Outside of Canada, one recognizes we have huge income disparity and opportunity disparity in many parts of the world. Charity starts at home but doesn’t stop there. We have work to do here.
When I visit families in Thorncliffe Park and find two families living in one apartment and struggling to make ends meet; many are foreign trained professionals, trying to feed their families, driving taxis, or working as a security guard – I know that’s not good enough. Outside of Canada, people dream of having two families in one apartment. We don’t stop at being charitable in our own country, we extend it outwards. That means untieing our federal aid to make sure it’s going to places, not because we have a mining or development interest or market we want to build, but because people need us to be there.
Then we can go anywhere proudly bearing the Canadian flag.
AKIL SADIKALI, NDP, DON VALLEY NORTH:
The question is about income inequality in Canada, not about income inequality around the world, and what our Canadian government is doing for its own citizens, and not about what’s happening around the world.
I remind our Liberal colleagues that they pledged to end child poverty, which has not been fulfilled. They had 10 years of government with massive surpluses to address the issue of child poverty.
The NDP has a policy platform promise to provide child care spaces for $15/day. That policy, already implemented in Quebec is very successful, and will allow the poorest of our society to at least send their children to child care, provide a place for children and opportunities for women to go to work and earn a living.
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We also had governments that cut affordable housing grants where now people are living in squalor. The NDP has made a commitment to re-establish those programs that affect the poor more than the rich, of course.
JAMES ARRUDA, GREEN – WILLOWDALE
We need to look inward first – just in Canada there is $600B stocked in the coffers of corporations and it’s not going back into the economy. We need to put it back into the economy. We cannot talk about ending poverty, without specifying that we need to eliminate it. We need to ensure that everyone has enough income. What we are suggesting is a guaranteed liveable income where every Canadian citizen can have a liveable income above the poverty line.
We also have a National housing plan – to make sure people don’t worry about living on the streets in the cold.
We need to make sure our citizens are ok before we can provide and charity and aid to other countries.
YASMIN RATANSI, LIBERAL, DON VALLEY EAST
The Liberal government has always been committed to meeting the Millenium Development Goals (MDG’s) because those are critical.
It’s unfortunate that CIDA, that was managing the MDG’s, was taken into Foreign Affairs. You can’t have a social agency going into Defence; that doesn’t work. I have travelled to countries where we give aid and assistance to see some of the work we have been involved in – and a dollar is worth much to a small-scale farmer. Those are some of the things we will be working on.
A fundamental role of federal government is to ensure that it gives aid to those most vulnerable and in most need. At the same time, we sometimes face donor fatigue, because we don’t have the transparency mechanism. Those are some of the things we need to work on, on an international scale with the countries where we send donations.
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11.5 What, if anything, should be done to hold Canadian companies accountable for their actions, and those of their contractors and business partners in other countries?
ROB OLIPHANT, LIBERAL, DON VALLEY WEST
I commend the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops for its profound leadership in corporate social responsibility; it has been an ongoing agenda for many years. When I was working on an ecumenical coalition with the Conference we talked about CSR in Canada and around the world.
Companies are profit driven and we accept that and we want them to make a profit. However Governments exist to ensure that companies do not sacrifice long term interest for short-term gain. So we put regulatory frameworks around that.
The Mining industry has caught the attention of the Conference as well as the Liberal party. We are attempting to find ways to ensure that companies headquartered in Toronto, financed in Canada are working around the world, in transparent ways, and making decisions which will not have long-term negative effects. That means fair wages for workers, environmental fairness, and ensuring long-term sustainability of the projects - not an easy topic, sometimes outside of the government sphere, but something we need to do, and are committed to.
AKIL SADIKALI, NDP, DON VALLEY NORTH:
We have witnessed tragedies in the last few years, such as the one in Bangladesh where a factory collapsed and workers who were stitching garments for Loblaws, and large corporations, were found in the rubble and we discovered those garments were headed our way.
It is incumbent upon us to make sure the working conditions of these people conform to some minimum standards. It is necessary to re-introduce regulations and proper labelling to tell us who are doing the work and where the goods are coming from, and if they doing it for a living wage or if it is slave labour.
We need to stop the entire globalization of the manufacturing industry, where we don’t know where things are coming from, and unable to trace what happens. Governments must be aware of these issues and provide us with tools to make decisions based on what we want as a society.
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JAMES ARRUDA, GREEN – WILLOWDALE:
My mantra is “people first, money second”
We are should not be defined by economy. But our identity is affected, if you go to South America for example where there are mining operations. They say your mining activities are hurting our communities, taking away our water and our natural resources and not giving us the benefits, or taking care of the costs. Recently Chevron, was appealing to the Government of Canada to make sure that they would not have to pay the cost of the damages.
75% of mining companies of the world have headquarters in Canada; If you go to South America or Northern Africa, they know who we are, but they don’t know who we are for the right reasons.
YASMIN RATANSI, LIBERAL, DON VALLEY EAST
Corporate Social Responsibility requires transparency, accountability and sustainability. These are values of the Liberal Party.
Having gone to Guyana or Nigeria – where there is mining is taking place, for example, if we have these values embedded in the Canadian corporation, it would be to our advantage and better for our reputation.
So many foreign companies are coming into those parts of the world, but they are doing nothing about Corporate Social Responsibility. How do we balance these two? We want cheap stuff, but internationally, we are collectively responsible.
As stakeholders we need to make noise at our corporations to ensure our value systems that we believe in, are reflected in their Charter.
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2.1 What is the proper role of objective evidence (eg. Facts established by credentialed scientists) in establishing public policy?)
ROB OLIPHANT, LIBERAL, DON VALLEY WEST
The way we live in Canada, how we make policies, laws and how we live together - for these we need information, evidence, scientific facts and the long form census.
A couple, working in food services can’t do their job to plan without information from the long form census. They used to pay for this information – from Stats Canada; they no longer even have it to buy. We have lost a generation of information data, which is critical.
We need to unmuzzle scientists; look at evidence on climate change, health care, criminality and criminal justice and what we are doing for society. Listen to experts, take advice and do policy accordingly and Canadians will have a better life.
AKIL SADIKALI, NDP, DON VALLEY NORTH:
Again this is a question for our colleagues not present. I don’t think we are involved to the extent of ignoring scientists. As a computer scientist I would ask, how else do we make decisions? We have to look at a problem, study what has to be solved, make a qualitative estimate – use the scientific method and evaluate results. You have to study what needs to be done, and evaluate results. Ignoring scientists is a bad idea.
JAMES ARRUDA, GREEN – WILLOWDALE
Right now our Government has been pushing policies that have no basis in evidence. What the Green party wants, and all other parties as well, is to unmuzzle our scientists; provide them the right and encourage them to talk about what is happening.
We need to return to the long form questionnaire to make sure that we finally understand what is happening in Canada, and not have partisan policies which are currently hurting all of us.
YASMIN RATANSI, LIBERAL, DON VALLEY EAST
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Governments should base their policies, on evidence, and not the other way around, not forced evidence, based on ideology; that’s what the Conservatives have been doing.
The long form census was very important, for us to determine the income problems within our constituencies and in Canada. You cannot make economic policies out of thin air; the economic indicators need to be there. You cannot muzzle scientists and Mr. Harper has muzzled his own people. So it’s important we take that message across.
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2.4 Would you support an MP’s ability to vote according to their conscience on significant issues? To vote outside the strict party line? If so what measures would you take to ensure that that happens?
ROB OLIPHANT, LIBERAL, DON VALLEY WEST
Christine Bennett, MP for St. Paul’s on Justin Trudeau’s style of leadership said she feels she has a leader, not a boss. Every opinion is taken and considered and those opinions are filtered. Caucus has real power to make decisions; but then once a decision is made, the caucus is expected to fall in line on those issues: Charter of Rights and Freedom, things we value as Canadians, the Throne Speech, issues of confidence, the budget, and any issues on which we get elected. So if we are talking to you about the Canada Child Benefit, or changing income tax structure, affordable housing, public transportation, or anything that is in our platform, we will be expected to support it, because that has integrity. We cannot promise you something today and not follow it tomorrow. It is clear that’s how Justin Trudeau will make decisions after we have spoken to you and wrestled with the issues ourselves. That’s our pledge.
AKIL SADIKALI, NDP, DON VALLEY NORTH:
I am an NDP candidate so I must vote with how NDP feels on certain issues. That’s why I am representing the NDP’s. In respect to staying within party lines, what if the Green Party had an MP in Fort McMurray, and he decides that his constituents wants to develop the tar stands, so he is going to continue developing the oil sands, against green party policy – it’s not going to work. If you run for the Green Party you must follow Green policy. Party policy is that we have to vote according to NDP criteria and would have to whip votes on certain confidence issues.
JAMES ARRUDA, GREEN – WILLOWDALE
The Green Party is the only one that has officially stated that we will not whip the votes of our MP’s. It’s important to make sure our constituents finally have some say. MP’s are not just not paid to do their work but to represent their constituents for four years. We need to make sure MP’s are following their constituents and then represent their voice.
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MP’s can at least, once a month prepare community meetings, such as this one, to hear what constituents want and not only live in Ottawa like kings , but come back here to understand what the constituency wants and then take it to Ottawa.
YASMIN RATANSI, LIBERAL, DON VALLEY EAST
Having served my constituents from 2004-2011 I was a strong advocate for my constituents, and they remember me, despite the fact I was not there for 4 years.
Justin Trudeau has said that MP’s will not be trained seals, unlike Mr. Harper. It is a collective. As a deputy Whip and knowing Parliamentary procedures and laws governing parliament there are areas where nobody can say that they will not whip the vote. That would be the throne speech, any of the confidence motions, you have to vote with your party, that is parliamentary discipline; also financial budget issues and anything that violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
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1.2 What is an elected official’s duty to her/his constituents?
ROB OLIPHANT, LIBERAL, DON VALLEY WEST
Our job is to be diligent – to use our intellect, passion and emotions when making decisions, but also to listen to constituents. It’s to synthesise the different views, we need to filter and think. When you send us to Ottawa you are empowering us, giving us permission to keep consulting, but also to use our reason and intelligence.
In a riding like Don Valley North where you have Bridle Path, Thorncliffe Park, Lawrence Park, and Leaside, you have a whole world within our constituency. Our job is to take concerns regarding the constituency, to try to do the best we can for the most number of people, but also remember all of Canada, not just our own riding. Be bigger than our own selves.
AKIL SADIKALI, NDP, DON VALLEY NORTH:
Our job is to listen to you and to reflect your wishes but also to think about your long-term interests. Sometimes that can be difficult. For example, we had some incidents in Ottawa and Quebec where people felt they were under threat through terrorist actions. It is questionable if they were terrorists or had mental health issues, but the Government introduced Bill C-51. At that moment, people were very scared, and felt they needed to introduce anti-democratic legislation.
A real leader would look at the legislation and ask what is in it, and is it in the long-term interest of the people. People were in favour of it in the short-term, but in the long-term it is undemocratic. Tom Mulcair opposed the bill, against public opinion. That is what your interest should be: to have a representative who looks at your long-term interests.
JAMES ARRUDA, GREEN – WILLOWDALE:
I’m confused; I don’t know what democracy is anymore. Is it about people or representatives thinking they know best what their constituents want.
One of the problems is the 1 st past the post – which nulls a lot of peoples’ voices. That’s what democracy is. You will have differing voices from all around the country, Fort McMurray, Sarnia, etc. that will happen. Democracy takes time if we want to look at the long-term.
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If my constituents are divided – it means we need better information to at least create some sort of consensus. That’s what the Green Party abides by. To make sure that the constituents not only control their parliament, but they can understand what is happening and finally make the change they want.
YASMIN RATANSI, LIBERAL, DON VALLEY EAST
An elected official’s duty is to serve his/her constituents – they are elected by the constituents. Sometimes constituents vote on our leaders, but I tell them that I am the one working for you. My leader does not work for you; I do. If you have problems, I try to solve them. My job has been to look after thousands of files in immigration, to look after everyone, whether you voted for me or not, that’s immaterial. My job is to serve and I have served my constituents well, throughout the 7 years I have been in Parliament. I have been their voice in Ottawa – not the reverse. Also, when I was in Ottawa I sat on various committees to advocate social justice and fiscal responsibility.
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4.2 How can reliable, efficient and safe health care be promoted by the government of Canada for all Canadians?
• Cost containment, alternative medicines • For the unborn? • For the elderly, the young, the poor • With respect to end of life care, physician-assisted suicide?
ROB OLIPHANT, LIBERAL, DON VALLEY WEST
This is a huge question – much of it is provincial but there’s also a federal part to it. In the past, Prime Minister Paul Martin put together the Canada Health Accord – 10 years of stable funding for Provinces and territories to plan and predict how to deal with Health Care costs. Costs are rising and containment is important. We are looking at a number of issues. Without that Accord, we need to work with the Provinces for find ways to reduce Pharmacare costs in Provincial government systems; looking at ways to foster in-home care for long-term care. We value our health and our system and want to protect it.
AKIL SADIKALI, NDP, DON VALLEY NORTH:
I worked at University Health Network, in the Dept. that decides what gets funded in the Provincial Health care system. We looked at extensive studies and treatment options and made recommendations to Government re treatment if it was to be included in OHIP, or if there are better alternatives.
The discussion isn’t only about health care. It’s about poverty. Many affected by ill health are poor. They don’t have enough money to feed themselves adequately; live in substandard housing; don’t have access to medicine – they get a prescription from their doctor but can’t afford it. We ought to look at how it alleviates poverty. Many governments made these promises and it didn’t happen. It is only the NDP that will actually tackle these issues.
JAMES ARRUDA, GREEN – WILLOWDALE:
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So true – you can’t deal with health care issues before you deal with poverty. Make sure people can sustain themselves, have a home, and accesses to services at home, especially for the elderly.
Phamacare is a smart move to save costs, and control what is going into our bodies. We need to make sure there are more beds and more doctors. Newcomers who have the credentials to give us the proper services - we need to talk to the official group who controls the number of doctors we are allowed. We need to ensure that nurses have to have the proper conditions here.
YASMIN RATANSI, LIBERAL, DON VALLEY EAST
Liberals believe in the universality and sustainability of publicly funded health care – yes it is a provincial jurisdiction that manages it, but it is a transfer payment. Mr. Harper has taken away $39 Billion – a lot to take away.
So how do you maintain universality? There are lots of smart ways in which we can work: Community-based solutions rather than hospital-based solutions, are more cost effective. For the elderly or people caught in the sandwich generation – E.I. compassionate leave is very important.
Regarding assisted society, the Supreme Court told Parliament to go back to drawing board re assisted suicide. We will take it into our health committee to ensure that we discuss it and that there is no one ideology vs. policy basis.
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13.1 Taxes are an integral part of building and maintaining any just and sustainable democracy. A recent study suggests that Canadians pay more for taxes than they do for food, housing and clothing. What is your response to that? Bearing in mind your answers to the foregoing questions, how will you ensure that taxpayers’ money is spent wisely, in ways that support the creation and maintenance of a sustainable culture of peace, justice and humanity?
ROB OLIPHANT, LIBERAL, DON VALLEY WEST
The Star article says we pay more on taxes than living expenses is ridiculous. What it is saying is that we are spending more on roads, education, health care, all those things we value as a community.
What we don’t like is when tax dollars are wasted. When the Conservative government spent $1B advertising its budget, the so-called Canada Action Plan – that’s wasteful. We don’t resent taxes to build up people; we resent tax dollars spent to build up a political party; that’s what we will fight against.
In next 3 years, unlike Mr. Mulcair who says somebody’s going to balance the budget, but gives away all these goodies, we will have a modest deficit – managed and controlled. David Dodge, Paul Martin, everybody who knows about the economy, say this is a good thing to do. We’re not going to raise taxes where we shouldn’t, we will put it into the economy, where it will get the most bang for the buck. Then we can relax about our tax dollars, they will be well spent.
AKIL SADIKALI, NDP, DON VALLEY NORTH:
In the past the NDP has been accused of a “tax and spend” attitude – Provincially NDP has been extremely responsible with tax money and runs efficient governments. Nobody loves to pay income taxes; but we must acknowledge we live in a progressive country, and that doesn’t come from thin air. Cutting taxes, which is what Harper and the Liberals, in the past, loved to do, doesn’t build services that people use and cherish. We have old age security and pension, health care system, all paid by taxes. We have to pay taxes unfortunately, but we get good services from them.
JAMES ARRUDA, GREEN – WILLOWDALE:
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We need a better overview on what taxes are and where taxes go. Why are we spending so much money on oil sands – when they are supposed to be covering their own costs. It hurts the pockets of individuals who don’t get the benefits from the royalties from oil companies. It is the fault of the government that allows that if no profits are made, no royalties are paid. Whenever our economy or the dollar goes down, we have to take the hit, and give more money than what we are receiving.
We are in a progressive country and we all have to work together; With the 1 st past the post – we don’t have a real voice on where taxes go and how much we get taxed.
YASMIN RATANSI, LIBERAL, DON VALLEY EAST
How do we create a “Just society” where the rich don’t get richer or the poor don’t get poorer. Liberal values ensure we tax the rich – but give breaks to the middle class and help those who want to join the middle class. That makes it just.
You sustain it by investing wisely, in infrastructure and green technology, not putting all our eggs in one basket as Mr. Harper has. He took $13B of surplus and created $182B in deficit. How? Who has benefited? Why are the cities crumbling? Why are there no child care spaces, or why are the children so poor? Our Child Benefit Plan will lift 315,000 children out of poverty.
We have a proven track record. During the Mulroney era we were told we were in one of the last places in the developed world. Jean Chretien turned that around. We have the track record, we can do it again.