New Democrats move to break up Harper budget bill that puts profits before people

OTTAWA –New Democrats are moving to break up the Conservatives’ everything-but-the-kitchen-sink budget bill (C-9) by removing major non-budget items.

“Omnibus bills such as this one are the last refuge of a government trying to make unpopular changes,” said New Democrat Leader Jack Layton. “The Conservatives know that Canadians wouldn’t support these changes on their own so they have to try to hide them in their budget bill.”

Among the most troubling elements of C-9 are changes to the Environmental Assessment Act that will give the Minister of Environment the power dictate the scope of environmental assessments, and hand responsibility for energy project reviews to the pro-business National Energy Board. A mix of other unrelated items are contained in the bill, similar to how controversial changes are tacked on to budget bills in the United States.

Provisions buried in the budget bill include:

• Authorization for the sale of the Atomic Energy Canada Ltd. with no debate or public scrutiny;
• A move towards privatization of Canada Post by removing Canada Post’s exclusive right to collect Canadian mail destined for delivery in other countries;
• Approval for the draining of the Employment Insurance Account, which held a surplus of $57 billion in premiums paid in over the past decade by workers and businesses.

New Democrat Deputy Finance Critic Chris Charlton said it was particularly troubling to see Liberals voting for the budget to be left as is.
“The environment won't be saved by eloquent speeches,” said Charlton. “Workers aren't helped by words! Meaningful change requires all Members to stand up and be counted when it's time to vote”

“We hope that all opposition parties will stand by their convictions and vote these measures out of C-9,” said Layton. “If these measures are allowed to stand, then not only workers and the environment will be short-changed, but democracy itself will have been compromised.”