Green Party Leader Trashes Conservative Election Platform

Green Party leader Elizabeth May claims Stephen Harper’s last-ditch campaign platform is just more of the Conservative government’s failed policies that have led Canada into economic crisis.

“This supposedly major announcement is just a futile extension of existing programs that haven’t worked and never will,” May said. “Harper is still steering this country in the wrong direction, ignoring the needs of industry, the environment and individual Canadians.” The promise of $200 million in loans over four years for each the auto and aerospace industries continues Harper’s “boutique” approach to tax cuts and subsidies, Ms. May said. “This pocket change is woefully inadequate given the scale of the economic crisis. Like the GST cuts, Harper is dribbling money away with no impact whatsoever on the economy or job creation. “And he’s offering tariff reductions to industries that can’t afford to import machinery, just as he’s generously given tax cuts to businesses that have no profits to tax. If this wasn’t such a serious matter, Mr. Harper’s policies would be a joke.” said Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. May states Harper has accused opposition leaders of panicking in response to the crisis but has gone too far in the opposite direction himself. “Canadians need a leader to show some concern in the face of global economic insecurity but Mr. Harper appears to be asleep at the wheel. Not only does his platform fail to protect the economy, it ignores the urgency of the climate crisis and threatens Canada’s fragile northern environment with open-for-business regulatory slashing. Conservative policies represent a significant threat to environmental protection. “Where are the policies that would help Canadian families? Why not accept the need for significant income tax reductions for families through income splitting? Why not commit the billions already designated for work on Coast Guard and navy vessels in Canada, putting Canadians to work and strengthening our economy? Why not expand national rail service? “The Green Party aspires to do more for Canadians but the Conservatives merely aspire to cling to power.” May questions why Mr. Harper chose to release the platform after advanced polls closed. “It is beyond me why Mr. Harper would wait until the campaign is practically finished before putting his policies forward for the public to scrutinize. It certainly suggests he is not expecting an enthusiastic response from Canadians.”