Prime Minister and Conservative Leader Stephen Harper made a pit stop in Penticton Sunday to address an invitation-only rally of supporters. He took no questions from media or attendees. His main message was that the other two major parties would bring economic disaster, while only Conservatives can be relied on to protect the economy in these uncertain times. (Keith Lacey photo)
During a quick pit stop in the South Okanagan late Sunday afternoon, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said allowing the NDP or Liberals to form the next federal government would be tantamount to economic suicide.
Speaking before a packed house of party faithful of close to 400 at Brutus Truck Bodies in Penticton, Harper said the ruling Conservatives are the only party with the mandate and plan to cut taxes, create jobs and balance the federal budget over the next several years.
The event in Penticton was arranged quickly as Harper had not announced any intention of visiting the South Okanagan at this point in the federal election campaign.
Harper and his campaign team flew from Ottawa to Kelowna Sunday morning and the Prime Minister spent time visiting a Kelowna winery before taking his campaign bus to Penticton.
“Our economy is not some theory in a classroom … we can’t tax or borrow our way to prosperity,” said Harper, who used the word ‘economy’ at least 20 times during his 40-minute speech.
The roughly 400 in attendance came from an “invite only list” and there was a large contingent of security officers inside and outside the event.
Marshall Neufeld, the Conservative candidate for South Okanagan-West Kootenay, introduced Harper after announcing other area Conservative candidates, including Dan Albas (Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola) and Ron Cannan (Kelowna-Lake Country).
Harper repeatedly attacked the Liberals and their leader Justin Trudeau and the NDP and leader Tom Mulcair, saying both parties would run huge federal deficits, kill jobs and threaten our country’s economic prosperity “in the face of heightened global economic uncertainty.”
Electing the Liberals or NDP would lead to economic catastrophe as the Liberals have stated publicly they will be running deficits for the next three years at least and the NDP have made campaign promises adding up to “tens of billions of dollars,” said Harper.
“The economy is our No. 1 priority and we must stay on course,” said Harper, who did not take questions from the media or members of the public during the event.
Lowering taxes and balancing the federal budget would remain a priority for his party if re-elected on Oct. 19, said Harper.
“Every single vote will matter,” he said. “Now, more than ever before, we are taking our message to every corner of this proud country, from the suburbs to the prairies, from our villages to our vibrant cities, from workers to small business owners, community organizations, co-workers. We will work day in, day out for the next 36 days to fight the calls for deficits and for higher taxes, to protect our jobs, protect our economy and we will not give up our future.”
Canada emerged from the worldwide recession in much better shape than almost any other country in the world in large part because of his party’s economic policies and strategies, said Harper.
“This country, our Canada, has been an island of stability,” he said, to resounding applause. “Canada still has the most stable banking and financial systems in the entire world.
“We have the lowest debt burden in the G-7 by a country mile.”
Harper couldn’t help but repeat a common phrase used by the Conservatives during attack ads against Trudeau, by mockingly stating “budgets don’t balance themselves” on more than one occasion.
The Canadian economy has created more than 1.3 million full-time jobs since the worldwide recession began in 2008 and is on course to create at least one million more in the next four years if the Conservatives return to power following the election, said Harper.
“It is this plan that Canada needs for the next four years,” he said.
The federal Liberals have conceded they will run “modest deficits” for the next several years and previous Liberal governments put the country in debt by continually running deficits for the better part of 30 years, said Harper.
“We are not going to let our country go back to that again,” he said.
NDP governments at the provincial level have allowed staggering deficits to accumulate, including twice in B.C. over the past 40 years, he said.
“It was a disaster for this province both times,” he said. “B.C. became a have-not province in Confederation under the NDP. We are never going to let that happen again.”
Trudeau recently commented that he believed more than 50 per cent of small businesses in Canada were owned by wealthy Canadians looking for a tax shelter, which should offend small business owners across this country, said Harper.
“The reality is half the small business owners in this country make less than $50,000 per year,” he said. “We understand that small business is the backbone of the Canadian economy.”
The Conservatives plan to reduce payroll taxes, which will encourage employers to hire more people and create more jobs, he said.
Besides the economy, Harper spoke very briefly about national security and Canada’s efforts to assist the refugee crisis in Syria and other parts of the Middle East.
“We will continue to provide humanitarian aid and refugee assistance, while continuing to fight against ISIS,” he said.
He also said the Conservatives will also continue to provide economic and political support for Israel and the citizens in the Ukraine.
Harper ended his speech saying taxpayers money belongs in the pockets of working Canadians.
“That money belongs to you, not the bureaucrats or politicians,” he said. “The other parties want to spend money they don’t have.”
Harper said he will continue to focus on the economy for the remainder of the election campaign.
“We are the most admired and best country in the entire world,” he said. “We will continue to move forward with our promise of lower taxes, balanced budgets and more jobs. That’s what is needed. This is our Canada, strong, proud and free.”
Harper continued his brief tour of the Southern Interior with a brief stop scheduled for Kamloops Monday morning.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
