On Parliament Hill

We all know and understand the importance of ensuring Canadians have access to good jobs. It’s that regular paycheque from work that helps us put food on the table for our families, helps cover the cost of educating our children, and maybe even gives us the chance to take a vacation with loved ones every once in a while. Canadians rely on good jobs to provide for the basics, and governments need to create an environment that ensures good jobs are available for those who are looking.

Unfortunately, the Liberal Government doesn’t have a plan when it comes to job creation and it’s starting to show in the economy’s performance. Statistics Canada recently released figures for the month of July and they aren’t encouraging. In only one month, a total of 31,200 jobs were lost across Canada and the unemployment rate rose to 6.9%. Statistics Canada also said the number of full-time workers dropped by 71,400. That figure represents the largest 1-month drop in full-time employment in the last 5 years.

This isn’t simply business as usual as far as economies go. This is a result of Liberal policies which are hurting employers and employees alike. The Liberals have been raising taxes on job-creating businesses, making it harder for out-of-work Canadians to find employment. Some businesses are already in a place where they are being forced to make tough decisions about maintaining existing jobs.

In recent weeks in this column, I’ve shared my concerns with a number of the Liberal policies that have contributed to the poor job numbers we are seeing now. For one, I have spoken out against the Liberals’ cancellation of the scheduled lowering of the small business tax rate. This action was taken despite their commitment to reduce this rate during the election campaign. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the Liberals eliminated the hiring credit for small businesses as well. I’ve also expressed concerns with the planned CPP tax hike. The Liberals told Canadians they had a plan to leave more money in the pockets of Canadians, but this plan does the exact opposite. Workers will be forced to pay higher mandatory CPP contributions leaving less money available for family priorities. Businesses will also be forced to pay more, limiting their ability to employ Canadians or give workers raises.

Our previous Conservative Government had the best job creation and economic growth record among G7 countries and we reduced taxes to their lowest point in 50 years. That’s a far cry from what we see happening today under Prime Minister Trudeau. The Liberal Government is not only failing to create a job-friendly environment; it’s actively implementing policies that hinder job creation. At a time when more and more Canadians are struggling to find work, it is clear the Liberals need to change their approach.