As you may know, our Conservative Government will introduce our 2011 budget in the very near future.  As your Member of Parliament, I value and appreciate your views. 

As in past years, I am pleased to invite all constituents to pre budget town hall meetings I am hosting across the riding next week.  It is important that I hear your views and thoughts.  Again, as in the past, I will compile your views into a report which I will submit to the Minister of Finance as he prepares Budget 2011.



As you know, our Government met the challenge of the global economic crisis head-on with the Economic Action Plan.  First, we took preventive action.  We paid down debt when times were good.  We strengthened our already strong banking system.  We injected stimulus into the economy before the crisis by cutting taxes.  And we rejected the job-killing carbon tax.

Once the crisis hit we didn’t panic.  Instead, we went to work.  We fast-tracked our Budget.   We created jobs by investing in roads, bridges, public transit and other infrastructure.  We stimulated consumer spending by delivering further tax cuts and encouraging families to improve their homes through measures such as the Home Renovation Tax Credit.  We supported workers and families by freezing EI premiums and enhancing unemployment benefits for those hardest-hit by the global recession.

Today, it is clear that the Economic Action Plan is working.  It has created jobs and provided financial security to families through the global recession.  Canada has entered the recession stronger, and has been less harshly affected, than other countries.

While the recovery is fragile, Canada’s economy is recovering.  Our economy has recovered more jobs than were lost during the global recession and since July 2009 over 450,000 new jobs have been created across the country.  However, we are not out of the woods yet.  The economic recovery is still fragile and we cannot rest on our laurels.

We know that Canadians are concerned about the economy. Canadians are concerned about their jobs, their retirements, and their families’ financial security.  Moreover, the ongoing difficulties in the American economy, the economic situation in Europe, and the ever present risk of protectionism, are clear signs that the global economic recovery remains fragile and uncertain.

As we begin 2011, I want to reiterate that the economy remains the number one priority of our Government.  We must make sure that Canada comes out of the global recession stronger than ever. Therefore, our Government is beginning to focus on the next phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan to sustain the fragile economic recovery.

We are looking at low-cost ways of creating jobs and economic growth while staying on track to balance the Budget by 2015.  We are also looking at ways to reduce government waste and protect taxpayers' dollars.

And let me be perfectly clear; we will not jeopardize the fragile economic recovery by proposing massive new spending increases that will increase government waste and result in higher taxes, permanent deficits or both.

Our Government will balance the budget by 2015, reduce government waste, and keep taxes down.  We will continue to provide the economic certainty, stability, financial security and opportunities that all Canadians deserve.

I look forward to seeing and hearing from you at any one of the pre budget town hall meetings noted above.

s always, I thank you for your support and appreciate the opportunity you have given me to represent you as your Member of Parliament.

Yours truly,
 
 
BEV SHIPLEY, MP
Lambton-Kent-Middlesex
 

P.S
 
If you cannot attend one of the sessions in person, please feel free to provide your ideas to me by mail to: Bev Shipley, MP, 380 Albert St., Strathroy ON, N7G 3J1 or by fax to (519) 627-4635 or by email to shiplb1b@parl.gc.ca

Please feel free to visit my web site at www.bevshipley.ca or to receive a copy of my free E News Letter, send an email to shiplb1b@parl.gc.ca and type the word “subscribe” in the subject line. You can also visit me on Facebook, www.facebook.ca