For Immediate Release:
January 28, 2009

LIBERALS DEMAND BUDGET ACCOUNTABILITY AND PUT GOVERNMENT ON PROBATION

OTTAWA- Mississauga-Streetsville M.P., Bonnie Crombie, announced today that she will join her Liberal colleagues in the House of Commons to ensure the Conservative government is held accountable for implementing the measures in yesterday’s budget.

"We are willing to support this budget on the condition that Stephen Harper and his government be accountable for their actions," said Mrs. Crombie. "We are demanding regular reports to Parliament on the budget’s implementation to ensure that the money is getting to Canadians. The reporting dates we are asking for are March 26th, 2009, June 23rd, 2009 and December 10th, 2009. The bottom line is that we’re putting the government on probation," stated Crombie.

"The Conservative government has mismanaged the economy for three years and now we have put them on notice. My constituents deserve more funding for infrastructure, social housing, immigration, and especially employment insurance," added Crombie.

Crombie has already spoken out in the House of Commons on the government’s failure to deliver on long announced infrastructure spending in Mississauga. "The city has shovel-ready projects but the government refuses to send the cheques," said Crombie. She hopes the Liberal amendment will ensure the money will flow this time.

Mrs. Crombie acknowledged that despite the budget’s flaws, there are a number of Liberal-inspired measures that she and her colleagues want to see passed in order to help Canadians suffering from the global economic crisis.

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