TORONTO-Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff says the new Conservative party platform has revealed $11 billion in cuts that would force the government to “slash and burn” public services and healthcare spending.
While the Tories rejected his analysis, Ignatieff said the new figures in the platform appeared nowhere in the Conservative government’s March budget, and raise serious questions about its credibility.
“We’ve reached a moment of truth when a government has made a series of commitments that don’t add up,” said Ignatieff, before launching a day of campaigning in the Toronto area. “The numbers don’t add up. It’s not credible.”
He said it contrasts with the Liberal platform which indicates spending priorities on items such as support for education while identifying where the money will come from.
“Now we’ve got a government that’s got an $11 billion hole, that’s going to have to slash and burn the public service of Canada to make… these things add up,” Ignatieff said.
He also warned the Tory numbers would jeopardize the government’s ability to renew a health agreement with the provinces that expires in 2014.
Both Ignatieff and Conservative leader Stephen Harper have said they would renew the agreements and increase transfer payments by six per cent annually, but Ignatieff said the Tory promise has no credibility.
“How are you supposed to go into the 2014 health accords with budget numbers that don’t add up?” he asked.
“This is the chief priority for Canadian families is to make sure we’ve got a healthcare system. These $11 billion in cuts are going to have a devastating effect on government. They undermine the credibility of this regime as managers.”
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said that the $11 billion in “savings” were not included in his budget because it was not slated to take place until 2011-2012.
“I didn’t build it into the budget fiscal track because we don’t have the savings yet,” he told CBC’s the House on Saturday. “We’re booking nothing for 2011-2012. That’s the year we’re going to develop the program.”
The Conservatives have also noted that the total amount of “savings” to be achieved would be spread out over a four-year period and would add up to a small percentage of overall spending under review.
“We have a track record of success on this,” said Tory spokesman Chisholm Pothier. “This will not be a painfull exercise, and we absolutely will not cut transfers to the provinces or individuals.”
Meantime, he said the Liberals have made some long-term pledges that are not costed in their platform, including money for Quebec in compensation for harmonizing its sales tax with the federal government, investments for a new bridge to Montreal, infrastructure money for high speed rail and arenas as well as pharmacare.
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