Just the Facts: Joe Oliver’s Unanswered Questions

March 19, 2014

Stephen Harper’s new Finance Minister, Joe Oliver, brings a questionable record to one of the most important jobs in government. Here are the top questions Mr. Oliver must answer for Canadians:

1. Given that the RCMP is currently investigating the Wright-Duffy scandal, something in which your Chief of Staff, Chris Woodcock, actively participated, will he remain in charge of your office at the Finance Department?

2. In your former role as Minister of Natural Resources, you approved spending $40-million in taxpayer money on advertising in the last year alone. As Finance Minister, will you do what Jim Flaherty was unwilling or unable to do, and finally end this wasteful government advertising?

3. On April 1st, your Conservative government is slashing infrastructure investment by nearly 90 percent, even though Canadian cities and communities are already under severe pressure. Funding will not return to current levels until 2019. Will you reverse the infrastructure cuts and invest in growth that will directly benefit Canadian communities?

4. You have attacked environmental groups as “radicals,” and your refusal to enact strong environmental regulations has made it harder for Canada to get its resources to market. Will you bring this hostile approach to economic growth policy as well as Canada’s relationship with world leaders?

Canadians are looking for a real and fair chance. Mr. Oliver has a responsibility to not only create the right conditions for economic growth, but to also ensure that growth is sustainable and will finally help struggling middle class families.