Clinton News Record, 2014-01-08, Page 88 News Record • Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Canada continuing to move in the right direction: Lobb
Next five years will
be rosier than the
last five
While Mike Duffy and the Senate
dominated the headlines, the federal
govemmentwas busy moving Canada
forward, says Huron -Bruce MP Ben
Lobb.
National media spent an" inordi-
nate amount of time" on the embat-
tled senator and who knewwhat about
a $90,000 cheque from Nigel Wright,
Lobb said.
Wright, former chief of staff for
prime minster Stephen Harper,
"resigned" and Duffy was suspended
for two years without pay, following an
RCMP investigation.
"In totality, we are looking at $90,000
thatwas repaidwith individual money,
not taxpayer money;" Lobb said while
discussing the year in federal politics.
That media focus took away from
the job that government and all other
departments were tasked with in 2013,
Lobb said.
The MP highlighted the federal gov-
ernment's continued commitment to
returning cash to municipalities
through the gas tax- "a significant sum
that helps improve communities."
Another $500,000 for infrastructure
improvements was pledged towards
the riding, in addition to funding for
festivals and events.
"All of this has contributed directly
to our communities (in Huron -
Bruce):'
Though healthcare is a provincial
government concern, the Conserva-
tives have continued to increase trans-
fer payments to provinces each year
since 2006, he noted.
One of the biggest news items for
the Conservatives was finalizing the
Comprehensive Economic and Trade
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Agreement (CERT) with the European
Union, negotiated since 2009. More
than 90 per cent of goods entering
Europe from Canada that receive tar-
iffs will have that lifted. "If you are a
Canadian company exporting to
Europe, you have become more com-
petitive because you don't have to pay
tariffs."
Lobb said "most agriculture" sec-
tors are excited about the opportuni-
ties and most will leam to tweak their
operations to meet demands of the
European market.
Opponents, including the CAW,
have called the deal `damaging' and
that it could result in lost jobs and
impact local economies. Lobb said it is
an initiative that will have a positive
impact on Canadians for years to
come.
Pension plan changes a hot topic
Provincial ministers met with fed-
eral finance minister Jim Flaherty
IN
recently to try and iron out a new
direction for the Canada Pension Plan
(CPP). There was discussion but no
consensus on a new direction, which
left a number of provincial representa-
tives disappointed, most notably
Ontario Finance minister Charles
Sousa, who suggested Ontario could
go it alone.
Hikes in CPP premiums are a pay-
roll tax that will negatively affect the
job market, Conservatives have cau-
tioned. But with an increase in retire-
ments and the average payment to
current retirees below $7,500, accord-
ing to media reports, the provinces
warn that something has to give and
soon.
Lobb said the CPP and changes to it
have been discussed before and after
he entered federal politics in 2008.
"The issue for the government is it is
such a huge program and to make a
change that is fair to someone who is
20, and someone who is 65 today...it is
a difficult task" Any changes would
have to fair and equitable for people
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who have already paid into it and for
those who will pay into CPP in the
future, he said.
As well, every Canadian is at a dif-
ferent part in their life when it comes
to education about retirement and
financial literacy, he said.
"It is not the end of the world that
the federal government and the prov-
inces didn't agree. It will take years for
changes and years for them to be
implemented."
Lobb suggested it is the wrong time
for the provincial Liberal government
to be taking on retirement -planning
changes. Though every Ontarian
would like to see some enhancement,
"there is a list 20 long" of priorities that
Premier Kathleen Wynne should
address before pension plans, Lobb
said.
"From what I have seen the propos-
als (on CPP changes) would add more
cost to business that they can't afford.
We have frozen EI rates for three more
years because businesses can't afford
increases"
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