Ottawa – Brant MP Phil McColeman is applauding the next phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, saying it will have positive benefits for Ontario families, seniors and job-creating businesses.

“Canada is weathering the global recession in a stronger position than nearly all major economies, with nearly 540,000 new jobs created since July 2009. But the global economy is still fragile, we need to stay focused on the economy,” said Phil McColeman.

The Opposition’s high-tax agenda would increase taxes on job-creating businesses to pay for billions and billions in reckless spending and bloated government programs in Ottawa. “As we try to fully recover from the global recession, massive new Opposition tax hikes would stall Canada’s recovery, kill jobs, and increase the cost of living for families and seniors,” said McColeman.

The next phase of our Conservative Government’s Plan keeps taxes low to promote jobs and economic growth, while supporting Ontario families and seniors. It includes:

Supporting Job Creation: a new Hiring Credit for Small Business to support local job growth, supporting Ontario’s manufacturing sector by extending tax relief for investments in new equipment and machinery, an expanded work sharing program, and major new investments to help the agriculture, forestry and mining sectors grow.

Strengthening our Families and Communities: up to $5,000 grants for Ontario families to make their homes more energy efficient; up to $840 in new annual financial support for needy Ontario seniors; a new Family Caregivers Tax Credit, a new Children’s Arts Tax Credit; loan forgiveness to attract doctors and nurses to rural Ontario; a new $3,000 volunteer firefighters’ tax credit; and the waiving of license renewal fees for hunters and
firearm owners.

Investing in the economy of tomorrow: increased support for research and technology, improved federal student loans program for Ontario students, and more.

Preserving Canada’s Fiscal Advantage: keeping Canada on track for balanced budgets by eliminating ineffective spending; limiting spending growth; and closing unfair tax loopholes.

Ontario will also benefit from many initiatives, including: $50 million to support the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, $25 million to support Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre, $20 million to extend the Eastern Ontario Development Program, $17 million to help fight the spread of Plum Pox Virus in fruit trees in the Niagara region, $5 million to improve the health of the Great Lakes, $4 million to support the Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute, a continued commitment to establish Peterborough-Toronto rail service, and more.

The next phase of the Plan also reinforces the Conservative Government’s longstanding rejection of the former Liberal government’s legacy of balancing the federal budget on the backs of Ontario and other provinces through deep transfer cuts to health care and education.

Indeed, under the Conservative Government in 2011-12, Ontario will see record high major federal transfers totalling $17.4 billion – an increase of nearly $7 billion from the former Liberal government. What’s more, Ontario will see growing transfer support for health care ($10.7 billion – a nearly 40% jump from the Liberals) and social services (over $4.4 billion – a 40% jump over the Liberals). The increased support will help hospitals, schools, and other critical services in the province.