Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Dion Promises 900 million in new Spending

A Liberal government would create a $900-million catastrophic drug coverage plan to reduce financial burdens on Canadian families coping with debilitating and chronic illnesses, party leader Stéphane Dion pledged on Tuesday.

Holy cow! Where will the money come from? So far and just what I have been able to dig up quickly, the Liberal campaign promises have been racking up.
  1. 900 million for catastrophic drug plan
  2. 250 million to "modernize" Fisheries
  3. 800 million for immigration "reforms"
  4. 575 million for retro-fits and "green mortgages"
So far 2.5 billion in spending announcements, and I may have missed some. And of course this doesn't take into account any of the spending commitments outlined in the Green Shift. Where will this money come from Mr Dion? Where? What will you cut?

Mr Dion you have complained to anyone who will listen that skating within a billion or two of deficit is not good management, but here you are spending billions more on new spending. What will you cut in order to make the fiscal room?

This will drive us ever closer to deficit.

We're better off with Harper.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm guessing that Dion doesn't plan to cut anything, except for perhaps the Canadian Forces, which Liberals view as expendable. The rest of the money will come from the so-called 'revenue neutral' Green Shift carbon tax.

Liberals now find themselves in the same position the NDP has enjoyed for years. While they will never admit it publicly, they probably realize they stand no chance of winning this election. Therefore, they believe theycan promise the moon and never have to worry about delivering on their unrealistic promises.

wilson said...

VERY curious, that while Dion was in Newfoundland hiding under Danny's ABC skirt, he did NOT promise to reverse PMSHs stand on equalization.
Jack did, Dion did not.
No outrage from Danny, but it was a Liberal promise.
What gives Danny???

Anonymous said...

Isn't catastrophic drug coverage a provincial responsibilty? Seems that the Liberals still don't understand our constitution.

wilson said...

OH! Dion just announced he will honor the Atlantic Accord.
So, now the bidding war between the Dippers and Libs begins.

Jack is offering $400 million.
Danny wants $10 Billion.
What will Dion offer for Danny to not turn on him?

p.s. Which one of these 2 parties will form Government so they can keep this promise?

AnonymousCoward said...

wilson, do you have a link about the Atlantic accord?

wilson said...

http://watch.ctv.ca/news/election-2008/liberal-strategies/

it's in part 2 (fast forward thru the first part and it contues)
goto minute 1:24

wilson said...

If elected, which Dion would Canada get?
The Dion that voted against the Atlantic Accord, or the Dion that does not want the rath of Danny Millions on his head?

What Dion said when he was against it, before he was for it:

re: a cap:
“I think you need to have a clause that says whatever is the formula of equalization payments, a province that received equalization payments cannot see its fiscal capacity going above the fiscal capacity of a province that does not receive equalization payments.” (CTV Newsnet, Mike Duffy Live, May 5, 2006)

“I think we need to have a clause of this kind that give a safety net to Ontario.
Newfoundland is a bit complex because nobody wants to revisit the special deal that has been given to Newfoundland because of their oil.
But outside this specific situation, we should say that a province that does not receive equalization payments should not see, with its money another province become richer than it. You need to have a ceiling, a kind of safety net that would protect Ontario.

I think it's a legitimate claim coming from Premier McGuinty.” (CTV Newsnet, Mike Duffy Live, May 5, 2006)

Dion on including all non-renewable resources :
“Yes, it would be my preference. This being said, I would be open if I was a prime minister to discuss with the provinces our views, but my preference is to go with the logic.
We have ten provinces in Canada. Then you take into account the ten provinces in the formula.
All the revenues affect the -- the fiscal capacity of provinces. You take into account all revenues.” (CBC Newsworld, Politics, December 21, 2006)

On excluding 100 per cent of non-renewable resource revenues from equalization
Dion calls it "foolish." (St. John’s Telegram, March 10, 2007)
"No. No. I would not commit to this” (St. John’s Telegram, March 10, 2007)

Dion voted AGAINST honouring the Atlantic Accord (November 15th, 2004)

http://www.conservative.ca/EN/2874/75350

John M Reynolds said...

- Doubling the $1200 per year for each kid under 6
- The income tax reductions need to be accounted for as well

sorry I don't know the amounts so they could be easily added to your list

AnonymousCoward said...

John, all that is listed in their Green Shift. I didn't include any of it. I should.

wilson said...

Only low income families get the additional Beer and Popcorn money.

Any bets that only low income families get the drug aid too.

The entire Liberal platform so far is targeted at benefits for low income people.

This is definitely a battle royal for Official Opposition.

Anonymous said...

I spoke with the national office of the Liberal Party of Canada today.
Direct personal income tax cuts to Canadians will total $6.5 billion at the end of year four under their plan.
In the end, the "Green Shift" will collect $9.0 billion more in carbon taxes than Canadians will receive back in the form of direct personal income tax reductions.
Not included are the adminstrative costs to implement the program, international trade consequences, and of course the inflationary aspect of increased taxation on goods and services.
The "Green Shift" calls for any surplus of the carbon tax to be returned to taxpayers.
Why then does the plan call for a projected $9.0 billion surplus at the end of the program?
Wouldn't it be simpler to reduce the carbon tax to a level that matches the direct income tax cuts?
If the Liberals really intend to return the carbon tax en masse, how then are they going to fund all of the programs under the "Green Shift" as well as the latest new spending announcements?
That money has to come from somewhere and the "Green Shift" is the only place to get it since Harper tightened the federal purse strings.
Are the Liberals using the "Green Shift" to fund their election promises?
Are the Liberals lying to us?