[AUTHENTICITY CERTIFIED: Text version below
transcribed directly from audio]
Good evening,
Canadians take pride in our history as one of the world’s oldest
continuous democracies. During the past 141 years, political
parties have emerged and disappeared, leaders have come and gone,
and governments have changed.
Constant in every case, however, is the principle that Canada’s
Government has always been chosen by the people. And following the
light of this democratic tradition, Canadians have built one of the
most peaceful and prosperous countries the world has ever known -- a
land of hope and opportunity that inspires others around the globe,
and has drawn millions as new immigrants to our country.
On October the 14th, for the 40th time since Confederation, Canadians
voted in a national general election. We are honored that you
returned our Government to office with a strengthened mandate to
lead this great country through the most difficult global economic
crisis in many decades. Canada’s Government is acting to deal with
the crisis, right now.
Further business and personal tax reductions are coming into effect.
We are doubling spending on
infrastructure.
We're ensuring credit for businesses and consumers by injecting
liquidity into financial markets.
We're helping seniors who rely on
RRIF
income, and securing pension plans.
We're implementing the Automotive Innovation Fund; and working with
the Government of Ontario, we are undertaking due diligence on any
further requests for assistance from the auto industry.
We're
increasing support and incentives for manufacturers, the forestry
sector, and others to pursue business opportunities.
We're
implementing agreements with the provinces to enhance labor
mobility.
And next month on January
the 27th, we will bring in a budget
which will contain additional measures to boost Canada’s economy,
while making sure we avoid a long term structural deficit in
the finances of Canada.
In preparation for that budget, we are consulting widely with
Canadians, meeting with the Premiers of our provinces and territories,
and working in collaboration with our international partners in
the G20. The Minister of Finance will be consulting with the business
community and interest groups.
We are consulting with, and expect to hear more from, the opposition
parties in Parliament. We hope they bring forward specific
proposals; we have invited them to do so. In fact, we have already
changed some of our own proposals to meet their concerns.
Unfortunately, even before the Government has brought forward its
budget, and only seven weeks after a general election, the
opposition wants to overturn the results of that election.
Instead of an immediate budget, they propose a new coalition which
includes the Party in Parliament whose avowed goal is to break up
the country. Let me be very clear: Canada’s Government cannot enter
into a power-sharing coalition with a Separatist Party.
At a time of global economic instability, Canada’s Government must
stand unequivocally for keeping the country together. At a time
like this, a coalition with Separatists cannot help Canada. And
the Opposition does not have the democratic right to impose a
coalition with the Separatists they promised voters would never
happen.
The Opposition is attempting to impose this deal without your say,
without your consent, and without your vote. This is no time for
backroom deals with the Separatists; it is a time for Canada’s
Government to focus on the economy and specifically on measures for
the upcoming budget. This is a pivotal moment in our history.
We Canadians are inheritors of a great legacy, and it is our
duty to strengthen and protect it for the generations still to
come. Tonight, I pledge to you that Canada’s Government will use
every legal means at our disposal to protect our democracy, to
protect our economy, and to protect Canada.
