Notable Quotes: 2010 Federal Budget Prompts Reaction
March 5, 2010.
The 2010 Federal Budget lays out a plan to return to balanced budgets by the middle of this decade, but more than a few Canadian experts wonder if Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has missed the mark.
“The federal budget deficit cannot be tackled unless the government gets a handle on reducing costs in the public sector. Many in the private sector have had to make sacrifices during the past year and so must the public sector to help get Canada's books back in order. This is just a start, however, and much more needs to be done on public/private sector salary and benefit inequities.”
-- Catherine Swift, president and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB), responding to Minister Flaherty’s commitment to cut governmental spending.
“Restaurant operators have survived the recession without government bail-outs or subsidies, and instead of being applauded they are being punished with higher payroll taxes. Businesses like ours—which depend on people, not machines—are at a breaking point in terms of payroll costs.”
-- Garth Whyte, Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA) president and CEO, responding to the federal government’s decision to maintain an Employment Insurance premium increase, slated for 2011.
“CMA Canada believes Budget 2010 makes Canadian businesses more globally competitive by eliminating barriers to investment in Canada and increasing their capacity to innovate. [We are] encouraged that the government is focusing on innovation, such as developing a Digital Economy Strategy that will further prepare Canadian companies to meet the changing nature of global competition and ensure Canada’s future economic prosperity.”
-- Joy Thomas, MBA, FCMA, C.Dir., president and CEO of Certified Management Accountant of Canada (CMA), responding to the budget announcement that strategic investment would focus on growing Canada’s digital economy.
“We are very pleased that the government has adopted CFIB's idea for a Code of Conduct and are putting it into action. We strongly support this Code and will do what we can to encourage the industry to implement it as soon as possible. However, should the industry not quickly adopt the Code voluntarily, we would support making it mandatory in fairly short order.”
-- Catherine Swift, president and CEO of CFIB, responding to Minister Flaherty’s commitment to develop a Code of Conduct for debit and credit card usage.
“With changing demographics and the need to sustain an aging population, the cost of government programs will be increasingly shouldered by a shrinking percentage of workers. We must get our fiscal house in order to gain the economic flexibility needed to prepare for the jobs of tomorrow and to adapt to future economic shocks. The government must not only recognize this pressing issue, but must also lay out a specific plan to address it.”
-- Perrin Beatty, president and CEO of the Ottawa chapter of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, responding to 2010 budget promises that the government can balance its books over the medium term without increasing taxes.
“The measures in the Extraordinary Financing Framework previously introduced by government were timely and effective and have contributed significantly to improved credit and economic conditions. While the economic recovery continues to take shape, conditions have not yet normalized and additional incentives would be helpful to encourage private sector demand.”
-- Ian Russell, president and CEO, Investment Industry Association of Canada (IIAC), responding and approving the March 4, 2010 budget announcement that included incentive financing in key areas of Canada’s economy.
“Federal government incentives have played a critical role in wind energy development in Canada by supporting and complementing provincial government initiatives in this area. The success of this partnership is clear Canada’s installed wind energy capacity has increased 10-fold in six years. While the federal government continues to identify clean energy and job creation as a priority, the actions taken in the 2010 Federal Budget make it clear that it has decided to download responsibility for attracting wind energy investment and jobs to provincial governments.”
-- Robert Hornung, president, Canadian Wind Energy Association (CANWea), responding to federal budget cuts to clean energy programs. |
