Ladies and gentlemen, prime minister Paul Martin is making himself available tonight to explain to western Canadians the dangers of Stephen Harper’s tax cut promises.
I give you, Paul Martin.
“Well thank you. As you know, we are engaged in the most important election in Canadian history, an election that will determine if my place in the history books will surpass Sir Mackenzie Bowell in the race to be Canada’s fifth shortest serving prime minister. Ha ha. I’ve already passed Charles Tupper, John Turner and Kim Campbell. Just watch me.
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“Seriously, though, Stephen Harper wants to reduce your taxes by $20 billion, $30 billion, who knows how much, whatever it takes to get to American levels. I want to maintain the Canada that we know. Lower taxes would destroy that Canada. Stephen Harper clearly is un-Canadian in his low tax dreams.
“Lest you think I’m talking rhetoric, let me remind you that I know of what I speak when it comes to tax cuts. As finance minister, I brought in the biggest tax cut in Canadian history, $100 billion. I know critics said it cut the guts out of Canadian social programs but it was necessary to keep Canada competitive with the United States.
“I’m proud of those tax cuts, but enough is enough.
“Anyway, back to Harper’s reckless promise of more tax cuts. Let me tell you this would have very, very bad impacts on Western Canada. Let me be very clear. Programs would have to be slashed.
“He should answer the question about how this would affect average Canadians, average farmers. Would it mean the end of the Crow rate, what Allan Blakeney called part of Western Canada’s Confederation bargain, a $540 million dollar injection into the western farm bottom line? Stephen Harper should answer the question: Would he sacrifice western farmers for his tax cuts? Farmers are facing the worst income results ever. They need that
support.
“What’s that? The Crow was killed in my 1995 budget?
“Oh, ha ha, I remember. It was a drag on the West, actually. Getting rid of it created the diversification and prosperity we see all around us in western agriculture. That was a good cut.
“But let’s get back to Stephen Harper and his tax cuts. They would not be good cuts. They would cut the legs out from under federal funding to public health care. I am committed to a universally funded and accessible health-care system and that is my bottom line.
“What’s that? My 1995 budget cut billions out of health-care funding? Well, those were different times. Now, I
consider health care the most important issue and I know Stephen Harper would not be able to expand the system after tax cuts.
“Let me make it very, very clear that health care is my No. 1 priority deserving more funding. Of course, I’m also committed to a balanced budget, more money for education, cities and First Nations, farmers and the environment.
“So there. That’s my sincere promise. These are all first priorities. Stephen Harper’s tax cuts, unlike mine, would be a reckless attack on the programs that define Canada.
“The Conservative vision is un-Canadian. The Liberal brand is tarnished. Vote Team Martin.”
