HARD-WORKNG NEW DEMOCRATS HOLD HARPER TO ACCOUNT

Conservatives lurch from prorogation to summit boondoggle in spring session

OTTAWA – From the prorogation fiasco to reckless spending on the G8/G20 summits, this session of Parliament has exposed the Harper Conservatives’ lack of accountability to Canadians, says New Democrat Leader Jack Layton.

“The prime minister’s choices say a lot about what’s wrong in Ottawa. Mr. Harper has driven up the deficit but continues to slash taxes for profitable corporations. His government is going to hit Canadians with an EI payroll tax hike. He’s turned the G8/G20 summits into a billion-dollar, protect-the-banks-fest and he says all the other issues, such as climate change and global poverty, are mere ‘sideshows.’ Gifts for corporations instead of dignity for Canadians. That’s not just heartless — that’s visionless economic management,” Layton said at an end-of-session press conference.

While the Conservatives have focused their efforts on helping the banks and oil companies, the New Democrat caucus has worked on issues that matter to Canadians. During the session, NDP members:
• Passed the landmark Climate Change Accountability Act (C-311);
• Campaigned in the House and across the country on the pensions crisis and recommended expansion of CPP/QPP, which the government now appears to have accepted;
• Won support for our motion to curb the prime minister’s ability to prorogue the House at will;
• Won support for our national affordable housing strategy.

And once again, New Democrat MPs are by far the hardest working MPs on the Hill.

“New Democrat MPs were responsible for 56 per cent of all private members’ motions, and 59 per cent of all private members’ bills. Compared to other parties, that’s four times as many motions and five times as many bills per MP. We work hard in committee, we are diligent about representing the interests of our constituents, and we are standing up to the Harper government,” said Layton.