HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2015-10-14, Page 5Wednesday, October 14, 2015 • News Record 5
www.clintonnewsrecord.com
letters to the editor
Reader believes Harper has 'very little
credibility' in managing economy
Dear Editor:
Stephen Harper has very little credibility
in managing the economic well being of the
country, as noted by many economists.
The facts indicate that Canada is in a
worse economic situation since Stephen
Harper became prime minister for the fol-
lowing reasons:
1) A growth of 1.6 per cent in average
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) compares
unfavourably to the last four prime minis-
ters, i.e.: Martin (2.9 per cent), Chretien (3.5
per cent), Mulroney (2.3 per cent) and P.
Trudeau (3.6 per cent). In addition, the job
creation record, at an average annual gain
of 1 per cent, has trailed the population
growth and is considerably worse than his
predecessors.
2) The unemployment rate of 7 per cent
ranks 5th out of the G7 countries and a dis-
mal 4 per cent in the G7 group in
unemployment rate growth. Since 2006 this
employment growth is a negative 0.1 per
cent compared to Germany at a positive 2.1
per cent.
3) After inheriting a surplus, Harper
delivered seven consecutive deficits until
the most recent balanced budget. This
recent balanced budget, for the most part,
is as a result of a windfall from the sale of
shared of General Motors and from robbing
the national contingency fund, the employ-
ment insurance fund and from cutting pro-
grams for veterans and seniors. Creative
and cynical accounting for election
purposes.
4) Under Stephen Harper, our productiv-
ity growth has resulted in a very low 5.4 per
cent increase over the past nine years, com-
pared to 12.4 per cent in the US.
5) Our standard of living increase under
Harper at a mere 0.4 per cent is worse that
any prime minister for over 75 years. In
addition, the gap between rich and poor
has widened under Harper and is now the
widest gap in over 50 years.
Now is not the time to "stay the course"
as this strategy has not worked. The Con-
servatives "failure" to garner more business
investment and exports has been extremely
hurtful to the economy. The corporate tax
cuts of $14 billion per year were supposed
to provide the incentive for business to
increase investment... this did not work.
Now is the time for stimulus, according
to most financial analysts. We have an
aging infrastructure with a cost of overhaul-
ing or replacing some conservatively esti-
mated at $350 billion. Now is the time to
start some infrastructure projects. The Fed-
eration of Canadian Municipalities esti-
mates that every dollar spent on infrastruc-
ture yields $1.20 in increased GDP. As Chris
Hall, the CBC National Affairs editor,
recently stated, "Most economists agree
that running a small surplus or small deficit
now doesn't really matter. Many are pro-
moting another round of stimulus (deficits)
to put Canadians to work, to improve Cana-
da's competitive position in global markets
and to build or repair vital infrastructures
such as roads, bridges and ports."
Christoper Ragan, associate professor of
economics at McGill and research fellow at
the CD Howe Institute, states, "The real
argument related to spending 'now' is that
Canada has real needs for more and better
infrastructure, as the mayors have been
saying quite credibly for some time. We
need better infrastructure, and now is a
very good time with very low interest rates."
Stephen Harper just doesn't get it and it
is time for a change. He does have hair
though, and it is nice.
Peter Shephard
Goderich
FROM THE ARCHIVES
15 Years Ago
The Clinton and Seaforth ambulance stations were
combined in an effort to more accurately represent
population and c all distribution. Equity, a service dis-
tribution model based on station organization to reach
any part of the county in 15 minutes, was ruled out in
favour of the population.
The Clinton and District Kinsmen were collecting
donations of bottled water for the people of Walkerton
during the E. coli outbreak.
Woodlands Links receive recognition for its environ-
mental planning.
The Clinton Radars won its season opener against
Monkton 6-1.
25 years ago...
The annual Bannockburn walk, sponsored by the
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, was held.
Two Clinton men were sentenced to prison terms
after being found guilty of break, enter and theft at two
schools and a church. Over the night of March 21 - 22,
1990 Clinton Public School, District Christian School
and the Clinton Christian Reformed Church were
entered by the two men, then aged 19 and 20.
Limited alternatives forced the Mid -Huron Landfill
Site Board into seeking technical approval for adjacent
land for landfill use after December 31, 1989, said a
report released at a board meeting. Criticisms against
the board piled in from residents saying they should
have looked at alternatives before opting to build a
facility at the proposed site.
35 years ago...
A Hullett Township family luckily escaped without
injuries but their home suffered heavy damage in an
early morning blaze one morning. The family of five
were forced out of their home about 4 a.m. when a fire
started need the furnace area. The Clinton fire brigade
spent nearly three hours battling the stubborn blaze,
which had spread to the roof area. The damage was
estimated at about $5,000.
The future state of the Clinton Town Hall was still a
tender topic in the Clinton council chambers. The first
phase of the 100 -year-old building's renovations were
completed and the town was making payments to the
contractor but arguments were still arising about over
run costs on the work, which totalled more than
$11,000.
if it's local, it's here clintonnewsrecord.com
Follow us on Twitter. Lwitterli @ClintonNewsRcrd