New Democrat leader: a government for all Canadians

HALIFAX — In a passionate speech to delegates today, New Democrat leader Jack Layton called on Canadians to help “undo the legacy of neglect and inequality that the old thinking of the last three decades has left us.”

Canadians “are proud of the way we treat each other, our open-heartedness, our generosity of spirit. Yet we have a government that doesn’t seem to share these values. They are mired in old thinking. We need new thinking,” Layton said to a roar of approval from the 1,300 delegates attending the New Democrat National Convention in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

We want a Canada in which “our government works for us – not against us,” he said. “Mr Harper believes that governments should get out of the way,” said Layton, “get rid of regulations and let the free market go to town.”

The recession that has vapourized pension funds and the RRSPs of many Canadians was “triggered by a carnival of greed among bankers and speculators and mortgage companies.”

“We ask all Canadians to join us, to imagine the Canada we will build together. We want to shape an economy that is sustainable and just and creates good jobs. We want to make sure the tax system is fair for everyone. We want to cut taxes and red tape for small business so they can create jobs.

“In our Canada, climate change is tackled with tough limits on polluters, and a new energy economy, with technologies built here and exported to the world. Let’s take our country back.”