Peggy Nash vs Peggy Nash:

September 1, 2015

 Nash once favoured investment during recession, now touts Harper and Mulcair’s cuts

OTTAWA – Today, NDP Industry Critic and former Finance Critic, Peggy Nash, reaffirmed Thomas Mulcair’s reckless commitment to cuts.

“The NDP’s been clear about our plan for the economy. It’s a plan that is costed, prudent, and affordable, even in difficult economic times…” (September 1, 2015)

In the past Ms. Nash has said Mulcair’s new fiscal policies are risky:

“If you rush too quickly to balance the books through austerity measures, you risk slowing the economy, maintaining or increasing higher unemployment and you delay in fact a return to the normal growth cycle of the economy,” said Ms. Nash. “We believe that the government’s not taking a balanced approach right now.” (Peggy Nash, The Globe and Mail, February 5, 2014)

“Well we support balancing the books over the business cycle, the question is one of timing. There is absolutely no objective reason for the government to enact serious austerity measures in order to balance the books sooner rather than in a year or so.” (Peggy Nash, CBC Radio As It Happens, February 10, 2014)

“Canada is in recession and families are worried, but Thomas Mulcair and the NDP are signing on to Harper’s failed economic policies,” said Liberal candidate for Parkdale—High Park, Arif Virani. “By joining Harper in rushing to eliminate the deficit in just six months, the NDP will need to make cuts and break its promises. Only Liberals will invest in our economy, our people, and our communities to support jobs and growth.”

”NDP Industry Critic Peggy Nash used to agree with investment during recession and she opposed rushing to eliminate the deficit at a cost to jobs and growth. Now Nash is siding with Harper and Mulcair in favour of cuts,” said Mr. Virani. “This is not the time for NDP cuts; we need to invest in the middle class and infrastructure across the country.”