January 18, 2012

Ottawa – Bev Shipley, Member of Parliament for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex says he is very pleased with the response he has received from constituents thus far on what their priorities are for Budget 2012, but he is looking for more before he files his report to the Minister of Finance at the end of January.  MP Shipley sought the views of constituents through a survey mailed to every household in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex prior to Christmas.

MP Shipley noted that though 2011 was quite a year, Canada can still boast the strongest and most stable economy in the industrialized world to invest and trade.

In responses received to date, MP Shipley says residents have consistently said the economy and government spending are their top priorities, expressing concerns about their jobs, their families their financial security and government waste. “We have listened to their concerns and we have acted with Canada’s Economic Action Plan: our low-tax plan for jobs and growth. Since 2009, Canada’s economy has created nearly 600,000 new jobs and our economic performance is the envy of other advanced countries.”

MP Shipley says the Government’s top priorities for 2012 mirror those of his constituents; “It’s the economy,” adding, “with the ongoing economic instability in Europe and the continued slow economic growth in the United States, it is clear the global economy is still very fragile. Too many Canadians are still rightly concerned about their jobs, their savings and their family budgets. Our Conservative Government will continue to focus on creating jobs and economic growth.”

Over the last several weeks Shipley says he and his colleagues have been busy planning and preparing Economic Action Plan 2012. Economic Action Plan 2012 will build on the Government’s low-tax plan for jobs and growth and will focus on key areas that will lead to stronger growth and job creation such as:

• Expanding trade and opening new markets.
• Investing in research and development.
• Contributing to skills training.
• Eliminating red tape.
• Keeping taxes low.
• Controlling debt.

MP Shipley says he is looking for input from all residents of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex on the policies the government should adopt to continue to create jobs and economic growth. “We must work hard to ensure the concerns and priorities of Canadians are reflected in our plan. We have come through the global economic recession stronger than almost any other industrialized country. However, there are tough, important choices that must be made to create jobs, keep our economy growing and keep Canada as the greatest country in the world. We must make those choices – choices that will lead to greater prosperity - but we must make them together with input from the people of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex.

MP Shipley says residents of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex can have their say on Budget 2012 by completing the brief, three-question survey located right here on the web site.