Dear friends,

This year’s federal budget could have made a positive difference here in Atlantic Canada. It could have set out practical steps to create jobs, promote growth and strengthen the services you rely on.

Instead, this reckless budget demonstrates that the Conservatives’ out-of-touch priorities hurt Canadians. The negative impacts are being felt in nearly every corner of our society.

Just one year ago, Stephen Harper ran a campaign that promised to create jobs. Despite this, the Conservatives have cut the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) by an additional $17.9 million. ACOA works to create opportunities for economic growth by championing the strengths of our region. Cuts of this magnitude will have detrimental impacts on the agency’s ability to represent Atlantic interests at the national level, and to strengthen our economy.

This budget has undermined the continued excellence of Canadian broadcasting. Upwards of $115 million in cuts will strike a fatal blow to CBC/Radio-Canada, and the artistic and cultural sector in general. We are deeply concerned that the Government has chosen to weaken the public pillars of Canadian culture rather than invest in a more vibrant, innovative and creative future.  

Budgets are about choices, and the Conservatives are making the wrong ones.  This budget stands are proof that the Conservatives are only interested in listening to their lobbyist friends rather than the concerns and desires of Canadians.

By gutting the environmental assessment process, the Harper government is burdening our grandchildren with costly environmental clean-ups. Under the guise of ‘streamlining,’ they are allowing our environmental protection system to become a process of rubber stamping. The Conservatives have removed almost all public participation in environmental assessments, and given cabinet ministers full authority to make decisions about major development projects.

Despite vigorous advocacy by New Democrats, the 2012 Conservative budget confirmed the complete elimination of the commendable program, Katimavik.  Defunding this program is yet another example of the Conservatives leaving the most vulnerable Canadians behind. Katimavik has provided Canadian youth from Halifax, and all regions of this country, with invaluable opportunities to experience Canada’s incredible diversity, and contribute to its further enrichment through commitment to service. It has been a vehicle for a stronger, more caring, and more unified Canada.

Stephen Harper and his team have made it clear. They are asking you to tighten your belt while they continue to blow billions on fighter jets that don’t meet Canada’s needs, a costly prisons agenda, and more handouts for banks and big polluters.

New Democrats are proposing tax credits for new hires, a helping hand for small businesses and a plan to keep good jobs here in Canada. These are practical steps to generate the sustainable growth we need to make Canada a global leader once again.

At the same time, New Democrats are fighting to strengthen the public services families rely on – starting with health care and retirement security. Because in good times and in bad, these are the cornerstones of our country that ensure no one is left behind.

Sincerely,

Megan