Budget bill, take three: another year, another omnibus bill

In 115 pages, Omnibus 3.0 changes at least fifty laws

OTTAWA – The Conservatives have once again filled the budget bill with measures which are not related to the budget. Omnibus 3.0 is the Conservatives’ third attempt to evade parliamentary scrutiny on their job-killing agenda.

“Stephen Harper made a commitment to Canadians to focus on jobs, but he's pushing ahead with job-killing austerity cuts that make life less affordable for Canadian families,” said Opposition New Democrat Finance Critic Peggy Nash (Parkdale-High Park). “Today’s budget bill is yet another attempt by the Conservatives to ram their agenda in an omnibus bill and evade parliamentary accountability.”

The Budget Bill raises taxes on Canadians by introducing tax hikes on credit unions, increasing tax on small businesses, and hiking tariffs on thousands of products. It also gives the Treasury Board sweeping powers to interfere in free collective bargaining and impose employment conditions on union and non-union employees at Crown Corporations.

“New Democrats will fight against Omnibus 3.0,” said Opposition New Democrat Deputy Finance Critic Guy Caron (Rimouski-Neigette--Témiscouata--Les Basques). “Canadians deserve better than a Conservative omnibus bill that makes life less affordable for families and fails to create jobs.”