Minister of State Wong Seeks Canadians' Ideas on Creating Jobs, Growth, and Long-Term Prosperity

Residents of Toronto contributed their views to pre-budget consultations

TORONTO, Jan. 20, 2015 /CNW/ - The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors) and Member of Parliament for Richmond, together with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs, Parm Gill, today hosted one of a series of cross-country pre-budget roundtable discussions. The purpose of these consultations is to listen to Canadians and hear their views on how Canada can create jobs, growth, and long-term prosperity. This formal process comes after months of meetings with Canadians about what matters to them and their families.

Finance Minister Joe Oliver launched these consultations November 27 with a clear message. First, the Government will not engage in reckless new spending or new taxes that will lead Canada down a path of fiscal deficits and economic decline. Second, the Government will remain focused on creating jobs and growth.

All Canadians will be able to participate through online consultations. The Government is seeking the input of Canadians on five key questions that can be found by clicking on the following link: http://www.fin.gc.ca/news-nouvelles/nr-nc/2014/prebudget-prebudgetaire-eng.asp.

Quick Facts

• Under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, our Government's top priority is creating jobs, growth, and long-term prosperity.
• We are on track to balance the federal budget in 2015.
• With balanced budgets in sight, the Harper Government is delivering close to $27 billion in tax relief for hard-working families over this year and the next five years, by:
  • Increasing and expanding the Universal Child Care Benefit
  • Introducing the Family Tax Cut
  • Increasing the Child Care Expense Deduction dollar limits
• Canada's Economic Action Plan is working:
  • Since the depths of the recession, we have created more than 1.2 million net new jobs—overwhelmingly full-time, good-paying jobs in the private sector.
  • The overall federal tax burden is at its lowest level in over 50 years.
  • Bloomberg ranks Canada the second most attractive place in the world to do business.

Quote

"Today's roundtable is part of a larger series of consultations that will inform future Government policy and help our government create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity, while ensuring the best use of taxpayers' money. I'm particularly interested in hearing about how the Government can better support seniors in maintaining a high quality of life and continuing to be active members of their communities."

— The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), Member of Parliament for Richmond.

Related Products

• Pre-Budget Consultations 2015
• Update of Economic and Fiscal Projections
• Economic Action Plan 2014

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

Related Links

http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca