Statement made on 29 September 2009 by Senator James Cowan
Hon. James S. Cowan (Leader of the Opposition):
Honourable senators, my question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate. Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced the government had delivered on 90 per cent of the infrastructure measures approved by Parliament in February.
Some Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!
Senator Cowan: I welcome the applause. It was unexpected. A closer look at the numbers reveals that no more than 12 per cent of the projects are actually underway and creating jobs.
Some Hon. Senators: Shame, shame!
Senator Cowan: Honourable senators, this situation exists more than eight months after the Minister of Finance told Canadians that it would take him only four months to deliver on his plan to kick-start the economy.
While this government is engaged in an unprecedented media buy to promote its approach in dealing with the economic crisis, shovels are not in the ground and unemployment is on the rise. When will the government realize that providing stimulus to our economy and meaningful help to Canadians means delivering on commitments, not issuing press releases and staging photo opportunities?
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