Interim federal Liberal leader Bob Rae is warning that the Conservative government’s plan to cut $4 billion in a deficit-fighting gesture will undermine food safety regimes in Canada.
At the end of a three-day Parliament Hill Liberal caucus meeting Aug. 31, Rae told reporters that as the economy weakens, export markets for Canadian goods are in turmoil and jobs are at risk, finance minister Jim Flaherty should reconsider his government-cutting plans.
All departments have been told to find spending cuts of five percent or more to help reach the government goal of eliminating the deficit within four years.
“The focus for this government has to be jobs and not cuts,” Rae said. “They are ideologically inspired cuts, cuts to Environment Canada, cuts directed to government regulation with respect to meat inspection, health inspection, food inspection. I’ve seen the story in Ontario where ultimately the price was paid in Walkerton.”
In May 2000, manure-tainted water in the southwestern Ontario town killed seven and sickened 2,500. A report on the tragedy blamed local officials but also the lack of regulatory oversight that had been cut by the Progressive Conservative government of Mike Harris in the name of budget trimming.
Flaherty was provincial finance minister at the time, in charge of the cuts.
“We have to understand that if you take government in an ideological direction, misery will follow,” said Rae, appointed as interim Liberal leader until 2013 after the Liberals lost seats and their leader in the May 2 election.
He was Ontario’s one-term NDP premier who lost the 1995 election to Harris.
His unpopular record as premier will be fodder for the Conservatives when they face Rae’s criticism once Parliament resumes Sept. 19.
After caucus, Rae vigorously defended his provincial government record of deficit spending, taxes and cuts in the public service by arguing that it was action required by the recessionary times.
In contrast, Harris cut welfare, cancelled infrastructure programs and social housing investment, said Rae.
“If you want to compare records, if you want to compare statistics, if you want to compare experience,” he said while pounding the podium, “bring it on.”
