harper-greece_thumb-1.png
harper-greece_thumb-1.png This article is more than 9 years old

Stephen Harper says axing family tax plan would trigger Greek-style economic collapse

By the beard of Zeus, what on earth is Stephen Harper talking about?

By the beard of Zeus, what is Stephen Harper talking about?

In a “confidential” letter to his caucus provided to the media on Monday, Prime Minister Harper instructs Conservative MPs to work “to promote the enhanced [Universal Childcare Benefit], and in making sure it will never be taken away from the families who deserve it.”

But there’s one line about Greece that may leave economists scratching their heads:

harper-UCCB-greece-excerpt.jpg

Leaving aside how Greece’s financial troubles were not triggered by taking away a $60 per month per child (before tax) subsidy increase — is Harper seriously suggesting that axing his so-called family tax plan would pave the way to the collapse of the Canadian economy?

Mass unemployment? Protesters in the streets? Line-ups at ATMs? Is Harper serious?

Harper’s baby bonus hardly covers average child care costs as is and does nothing to create new child care spaces. And except for very wealthy families, 9 in 10 households will see no benefit from Harper’s income splitting scheme.

Is Harper seriously suggesting Canada’s economy is so fragile under his leadership that $60/month and a tax break hardly anyone qualifies for is all that stands between order and chaos?

There is no plausible scenario where axing these measures sends the Canadian economy spiralling into chaos.

But maybe most staggering of all: Harper says he wants to avoid a “cycle of spiralling deficits.” By his own logic, what does spending $26.755 billion on these measures at the same time as the recession appears to be pushing Canada back into deficit do to accomplish that?

Of course, running deficits during recessions can actually help stimulate the economy (Harper did that — he even said “deficits are essential” during a recession). Heck, Harper’s run seven deficits in a row.

Now he wants you to believe doing what he’s done seven times will trigger a Greek-style economic collapse?

Photo: Wikimedia. Facebook. 

Our journalism is powered by readers like you.

We’re an award-winning non-profit news organization that covers topics like social and economic inequality, big business and labour, and right-wing extremism.

Help us build so we can bring to light stories that don’t get the attention they deserve from Canada’s big corporate media outlets.

 

Donate
PressProgress
PressProgress is an award-winning non-profit news organization focused on uncovering and unpacking the news through original investigative and explanatory journalism.

Most Shared

thumb-2024-10-011-anthony-koch News

Take Back Alberta Leaders are Training ‘Scrutineers’ to Infiltrate Campaigns and Act as ‘Security’ on Voting Day

Related Stories

News

BC Conservatives Under Fire Over Spokesperson Known for Insults, Slurs and Online Abuse

View the post
New

BC Conservative Candidate Called For ‘Boycott’ of Air Canada to Stop Airlifts Rescuing Syrian Refugees

View the post
Analysis

BC Conservative Leader Was ‘Offensive and Insulting’ During BC Election Debate, First Nations Leaders Say

View the post
Our free email newsletter delivers award-winning journalism directly to your inbox.
Get Canadian Investigative News You Won't Find in Corporate Newspapers.
Our free email newsletter delivers award-winning journalism to your inbox.
Get Canadian Investigative News You Won't Find in Corporate Newspapers.