Ottawa - The Green Party of Canada is calling on Finance
Minister Jim Flaherty to explore the innovative Australian economic
stimulus packages of 2008 and 2009 that helped that country - alone among
Western nations - avoid a technical recession (Canada's GDP dropped
3.6%). The two Australian programs had an emphasis on giving a stimulus
directly to low and medium income families to boost economic activity and
jobs.
“The Conservatives need to look to Australia for
economic policy innovation rather than constantly spinning on how Canada
is in better economic shape than the U.S. and many European countries,” said
Green Leader Elizabeth May adding "We need to be comparing
ourselves to the best economic practices and not poor ones" .
“We propose a Canadian ‘Investment In
People’ Stimulus Plan, modelled on what the Australian government put in
place" said Eric Walton, Green International Affairs Critic. “Targeted
people-oriented stimulus spending could help - along with other measures -
to reduce the risk of Canadian unemployment rates from further
escalating.”
“If we do not quickly succeed in stabilizing the
Canadian employment situation before it further deteriorates, then we risk
beginning a downward economic spiral of declining government revenues in
tandem with increasing E.I. and other social service costs. The budgetary
impact of this will be much higher deficits over a greater number of years and
consequently will end up costing us much more than a one-time
strategic stimulus in people and accelerated job creation” said Walton.
The support of
Green Party Senators popularly elected to the Australian Parliament
proved essential to the successful passage of the 2009 Australian Economic
Stimulus Package into law.
http://bob-brown.greensmps.org.au/content/greens-negotiate-economic-stimulus-package
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Media Contact:
Rebecca Harrison
rebecca.harrison@greenparty.ca
613-614-4916