Government Action is Creating and Protecting Jobs

September 25, 2009

It’s no secret that the global economic crisis has made times tough for families in communities like ours across the country. Yet there are signs of light at the end of the tunnel. Statistics Canada is reporting that over 20,000 new jobs were created in August. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation is announcing that the construction of new homes has gone up by 12 per cent. Furthermore, the Bank of Canada says that our economy is on the right track for recovery. However, this is not the case everywhere. As the world is still in the grips of the global recession, many other countries are still feeling the effects. While Canada is generating jobs, the United States – our largest trading partner – lost another 216,000. So why is Canada starting to show signs of recovery? Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our Government is helping to keep and create jobs for Canadians across the country.

To help ensure that more Canadian workers are able to keep their current jobs, our Government is expanding the use of work-sharing agreements. Work-sharing agreements help companies avoid laying off workers during tough times. This means that fewer families will face the stress of layoffs and more companies will keep their valuable, experienced employees.

As part of our Plan, we are also taking action to build and renew roads, bridges, water treatment plants, sewer systems and other types of infrastructure in communities like ours across Canada. This year and next, our Government is investing $9.8 billion in projects that will help create jobs for local tradespeople and stimulate economies from coast to coast to coast. This includes major projects like:

• Over 1,000 municipal infrastructure projects in Ontario;
• $2.7 million in Federal funding for the Building Dreams Project (Community Living Dufferin and Theatre Orangeville);
• Over $6 million in joint municipal, provincial, and federal funding for recreational projects in Dufferin Caledon;
• $7 million in Federal funding for the “Phase Two” expansion of the Town of Caledon’s Community Complex, which will complete the twinning of the Caledon East Arena; and
• $5.2 million in joint federal and provincial funding for the construction of a new sewage treatment facility, in East Luther Grand Valley.

Some regions more than others, such as Southern Ontario, have been harder hit by the global recession. However, some like Canada’s North, represent great opportunities for Canada’s future success. For both of these regions, our Government is delivering new Economic Development Agencies, which will liaise between all government levels to help bring business and jobs to these regions, as well as build economic activity.
EI premiums are one of the largest job creation costs for businesses. To help keep Canadian businesses competitive, our Government is committing to freezing Employment Insurance premiums at their lowest levels since 1982 for the next two years.
    

Our Government is working through Canada’s Economic Action Plan to fight the recession. We will always work in the best interest of Canadians and their families.