Thomas Mulcair’s $28 billion hole

August 30, 2015

Mulcair will break his promises and impose cuts

OTTAWA – By siding with Stephen Harper’s economic plans, Thomas Mulcair has at least a $28 billion hole he can only fill with cuts and broken NDP promises.

“Thomas Mulcair isn’t telling Canadians the truth about his phony commitments, so we crunched the numbers for him. The result is a $28 billion gap between Mulcair’s empty promises and his pledge to join Harper in eliminating the deficit six months from now,” said former RBC chief economist and Markham—Thornhill Liberal candidate, John McCallum. “It means Mulcair will make deep cuts and back off his empty promises, like child care and public transit. He’s already backing off his health care funding commitments.”

“The actual gap in Mulcair’s math is much larger than $28 billion because it doesn’t include costly promises the NDP hasn’t provided details for, like veterans and home care,” said Mr. McCallum. “All of Mr. Mulcair’s stated revenue tools don’t come close to filling the hole.”

Mr. McCallum noted that in the first budget alone, Mulcair will not be able to follow through on:

  • $595 million for child care;
  • $1.3 billion for public transit;
  • $570 million for a small business tax cut;
  • $420 million for infrastructure;
  • $940 million for social and affordable housing;
  • $721 million for First Nations education; and
  • $100 million for seniors.

“It’s been clear for a long time Mulcair’s numbers don’t add up. Liberals asked him, journalists asked him, but Mulcair doesn’t answer because he has no answers,” said economics professor and Québec Liberal candidate, Jean-Yves Duclos. “Now we know the truth. Mulcair says whatever is convenient but can’t back it up. His proposals are a mirage.”  

“Thomas Mulcair has signed on to Harper’s failed economic policies. He opposes our plan to raise taxes on the wealthiest one percent; he opposes our tax cut for the middle class; and he’s going to keep sending Harper’s child benefit cheques to millionaires,” said former Manitoba NDP Cabinet Minister and Kildonan—St. Paul Liberal candidate, MaryAnn Mihychuk. “This election is a choice between jobs and growth or cuts, and Thomas Mulcair made the wrong choice.”