PM reports to Canadians: 80 percent of Economic Action Plan initiatives already being implemented

June 11, 2009

 
The Harper Government’s unprecedented effort to accelerate the job-creating investments contained in Canada’s Economic Action Plan is paying dividends, with 80% of this fiscal year's (2009-2010) Economic Action Plan initiatives already being implemented.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper provided Canadians with an update today on the government’s progress in implementing Economic Action Plan initiatives to stimulate the economy, create jobs and support those who are hardest hit by the global recession.

“In just 72 days, our government has eighty percent of the largest economic recovery program in Canadian history underway,” said the Prime Minister in Cambridge, Ontario.  “In every region of Canada, families and businesses are paying less tax, unemployed workers are receiving enhanced benefits and training, and major job-creating projects are breaking ground.  Our absolute priority as a government is to continue doing everything we can to deliver timely, targeted and affordable support to the Canadian workers, families and businesses who need it most.”

The Prime Minister summarized the Economic Action Plan measures already being implemented.  These include:

• permanently reducing the tax burden on Canadians;
• providing tax relief and improved access to financing for Canadian households and businesses;
• assisting unemployed workers through extended EI benefits and improved skills training;
• supporting home ownership and creating jobs through housing construction;
• creating jobs through a massive injection of infrastructure spending;
• supporting the industries and communities hardest hit by the global recession; and
• investing in the jobs of tomorrow through new supports for research and technology.

The report highlights that Canada continues to be in the strongest financial position of any G-7 country, even with these historic investments.  Experts such as the International Monetary Fund judge the Economic Action Plan to be a “timely, appropriately sized, diversified and well structured” response to the global recession.

Specific Economic Action Plan initiatives will continue to roll out over the two-year time frame spelled out in the plan.  The Government of Canada has re-launched www.actionplan.gc.ca to help Canadians learn more about the initiatives underway in their own communities and provide more local and up-to-date information on the progress being made in every region of the country.