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Scheer names co-chairs in plans to cut corporate welfare

This is the first announcement of the Conservative Party leader's 100 Day Action Plan
scheer
(File)

Conservative Party of Canada leader Andrew Scheer has announced who would be leading the Commission on the Reduction of Government Subsidy Programs to Corporations should he be elected as Prime Minister.

These individuals are Kevin Falcon, the former deputy premier and finance minister of British Columbia and Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, the former president and CEO of VIA Rail Canada. 

This is the first announcement of Scheer's 100 Day Action Plan, which outlines steps a Tory government would take to help Canadians get ahead. 

According to a press release issued Saturday, the commission will be operated out of the Department of Finance and review all business subsidy programs, including grants and contributions to corporations to:

  • Reduce corporate subsidies by $1.5 billion per year
  • Recommend performance metrics for corporate subsidy programs
  • Review innovation programs to ensure that they are supporting Canadian companies that provide benefits, profits and patents that stay in Canada

Read the full text release below.

Andrew Scheer names Co-Chairs of committee to cut corporate welfare
Taxpayer handouts to wealthy executives, shareholders, and foreign companies to be eliminated, savings to be redirected to Canadians

Burnaby, BC – Today, Andrew Scheer announced that as Prime Minister he will appoint Kevin Falcon, the former deputy premier and finance minister of British Columbia, and Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, the former president and CEO of VIA Rail Canada, to lead the Commission on the Reduction of Government Subsidy Programs to Corporations. This is the first announcement of Andrew Scheer’s 100 Day Action Plan – the steps a new Conservative government would take to help Canadians get ahead.

“You shouldn’t have to be a billionaire to get your government’s attention,” Scheer said. “You deserve a government, and a Prime Minister, whose first priority will be to help you get ahead.”

The Commission on the Reduction of Government Subsidy Programs to Corporations will review all business subsidy programs, including grants and contributions to corporations. The commission’s mandate will include:

Reducing corporate subsidies by $1.5 billion per year
Recommending performance metrics for corporate subsidy programs
Reviewing innovation programs to ensure that they are supporting Canadian companies that provide benefits, profits and patents that stay in Canada.
The commission will be operated out of the Department of Finance. A new Conservative government will also strengthen Canada’s regional development agencies, focusing on helping small and medium businesses to grow.

“There is a truism I’ve learned watching governments of all stripes throw taxpayer dollars at undeserving corporations. Governments have a terrible record of picking between winners and losers. I’m proud to have been part of a government that eliminated all corporate subsidies, grants and equity investments to individual for-profit businesses. I applaud the Conservative party and Andrew Scheer for their commitment to scale back this corporate welfare and redirect it where it belongs, in the pockets of Canadian families,” Falcon said.

“As in all areas of government, spending taxpayers’ money must be efficient and produce the greatest benefits to Canada’s economy. I’m honoured to co-chair this review with a distinguished Canadian, and I’m confident our review will yield the expected benefits,” said Desjardins-Siciliano.

“Hard-working Canadians are rightly offended when they see their tax dollars going to further the interests of the wealthy and well-connected friends, while Justin Trudeau makes them pay more for gasoline, groceries, and home heating,” Scheer said.


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