Conservatives vote against job creation for the middle class

NDP Finance critic Nathan Cullen (Skeena – Bulkley Valley) made the following statement on the defeat of his motion calling on the Conservatives to invest in good, middle class jobs:

“The CIBC’s recent job quality report confirms what the NDP has been saying for years: successive Liberal and Conservative government failures have left Canadians working harder than ever and falling further behind.

“Canadians are facing high unemployment rates, a weak economy and record deterioration in employment quality which is likely to be long-term if we don’t take action.

“Tom Mulcair’s NDP understands that to restore our economy good, middle-class jobs must be the first priority.

“This is why in our first opposition motion of 2015, we urged the Conservatives to abandon their wasteful income splitting scheme to take billions from middle-class Canadians and give it to the wealthy few; and to instead present a transparent fiscal update and a budget that addresses middle-class challenges. Unfortunately, the Conservatives voted against it.

“Our opposition motion this week was another practical proposal that would prioritise job creation and address the needs of the Canadian economy. Again, the Conservatives ensured its defeat.

“Canadians deserve better.

“Tom Mulcair’s NDP is ready to make the economy work for Canadians with a practical plan to help create good-paying jobs. This includes supporting manufacturing and small businesses, implementing a $15 an hour federal minimum wage, and $15 a day child care.”