Premiers’ Infrastructure Spending Demand Bad Timing: Joe Oliver

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Canada’s premiers have made a significant move just before the 2015 federal election campaign by making a joint call for major new spending on infrastructure, which is a request constantly denounced by the Conservative government since it is considered to be “oblivious” to the current state of the economy.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday morning when a meeting of the premiers was getting under way in Ottawa, Federal Finance Minister Joe Oliver stated that this is “precisely the wrong time” for what he described as a massive deficit program. He alleged that “the opposition and some premiers appear oblivious to the consequences of the current global instability and the dramatic decline in the price of oil.” However, Mr. Oliver’s remarks drew sheer criticism by many premiers gathered at the meeting chaired by P.E.I. Premier Ghiz.

Speaking in French, Quebec’s Philippe Couillard alleged that “I was very surprised by the rapidity of [Mr. Oliver’s] message.” He added that “it doesn’t correspond with what is required for the economy.” Whereas on the other hand, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne mentioned in a straightforward tone that “I believe that the response that Mr. Oliver has given so quickly to our discussion really demonstrates, in my opinion, that the oblivion is not on the part of the premiers. The oblivion actually is on the part of the federal government.” Wynne’s remarks have led many to believe that the recent compromise between the Queens Park and Ottawa was short-lived.

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