Friday, September 12, 2008

Battleground Quebec: Harper Goes After Liberals, Bloc On Economy, National Unity

From The National Post:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper kicked off today's dust-up in la Belle Province by attacking the Liberals and Bloc Quebecois on their weak economic stances in a breakfast speech in Montreal this morning. Here are some highlights:

On the Bloc's economic strategy: "The Bloc Quebecois doesn’t have a serious economic plan. In reality, the Bloc wants nothing to do with the federal government,” he said, adding: “At the same time, they want more money from the federal government. You have to admit it’s a bit of a paradox.”

On Quebec sovereignty: "Our intent to practice open federalism. We do not want to have a constitutional debate, in Quebec or elsewhere in Canada."

On Dion's carbon tax plan: “Mr. Dion says a new tax will help the economy. But I am telling you that his new carbon tax will destroy everything this government has built over the last 2 1/2 years. Worse, the new Liberal tax will plunge Canada into a recession.”

"The Liberals will use the money from the carbon tax to create programs, like the Millennium Scholarship. They will once again interfere in the jurisdiction of the provinces. And then the old federal-provincial bickering will return.”

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