Sunday, November 18, 2007
Layton calls for investment in cities to close prosperity gap for homeowners - Wednesday November 14, 2007
OTTAWA – Today, NDP Leader Jack Layton and NDP Infrastructure Critic David Christopherson (Hamilton Centre) called on the Harper government to put in place a real plan to invest in Canadian cities. The need for such a plan is urgent as the direct consequences of Harper’s unbalanced mini-budget mount.
Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion recently indicated that property taxes in her city will have to be increased, blaming the lack of investment in the mini-budget announced by the Harper government last month. Layton and Mayor McCallion spoke earlier today about the failings of the Harper mini-budget and, in particular, that its focus on corporate tax cuts does nothing to address long-term infrastructure deficits.
“Mayor Hazel McCallion’s dilemma is just one example of what hundreds of mayors across Canada are facing. The Harper government had an opportunity to close the prosperity gap facing our cities but chose not to. The situation facing our cities today is urgent,” said Layton.
Mississauga City Council was forced to bring in a five per cent operating tax increase in order to pay for much-needed infrastructure.
“Working and middle class families are directly affected because Harper’s mini-budget put the big corporations first,” said Layton. “Now homeowners’ pocketbooks are being hit to pay for Harper’s bad decisions.”
Christopherson doesn’t understand where the Harper government’s priorities are. “Harper gives 14 billion in corporate tax cuts but our cities scramble. The NDP would have taken a balanced approached,” he said. “Why should homeowners pay the price for Harper’s corporate tax cuts to the banks? We need investments in our communities, and we need investments now.”
# posted by Francis Chartrand @ 11:41 AM 
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