EDMONTON – The three major party leaders faced-off in Calgary for a debate on the economy. Host Jane Taber said the location of the debate was significant, describing Alberta as the “barometer for the country’s economy.”
While the price of oil sunk and continues to remain low, concerns about jobs, layoffs and financial security have risen.
Harper slams Alberta NDP
Conservative leader Stephen Harper wasn’t shy about pointing the finger during the tax portion of the debate. Harper criticized the federal NDP’s platform then drew a link to the Alberta NDP’s decision to raise corporate taxes.
NDP leader Tom Mulcair interrupted to say that was “completely false.”
“This is the same story we had in Alberta when the NDP came to office,” Harper continued. “We’d somehow fix our problems through raising taxes and now what have we’ve seen?
“Now I know tradespeople who are now getting higher individual tax bills, we see people getting layoffs because their employers are paying higher taxes. Higher taxes are not the way you’re going to move the energy sector or the Canadian economy forward in a challenging global economy.”
Alberta’s finance minister fired back on Friday.
“Once again I feel to compelled to respond to misleading and inaccurate statements the prime minister has made about our government,” said Joe Ceci. “The fact remains that Stephen Harper has been in power for nearly a decade and his policies – including tax cuts to the largest corporations – are not working.
“He staked the economic health of our country on the energy sector and we are paying the price for the lack of leadership on his part to grow and diversity our economy here now.”
READ MORE: Alberta government’s decision to hike taxes made recession worse, Harper says
Earlier this week, Ceci spoke out after Harper made similar comments about the provincial NDP.
Notley, who won a majority government by a landslide on May 5, has hiked taxes on large corporations to 12 per cent from 10 per cent and increased personal income taxes for those making more than $125,000 annually.
Harper talked about the provincial NDP a couple of times during Thursday’s debate, saying it’s in the “NDP playbook” to try to balance the budget through tax increases.
“And what happens? We end up with job losses. That’s what we had with the NDP in power in Ontario.. B.C. …and we’re seeing exactly the same story here in Alberta.
“We had a round of layoffs because of low oil prices, now we’re having a round of layoffs because of the business tax increases of the NDP,” said Harper.
Trudeau said, in the wake of layoffs in Alberta, the Liberals would invest now in things like creating transit and “skills that can be put to work building our country.”
He added, when it comes to taxes, the middle class should pay less and the wealthiest Canadians should pay more.
WATCH: Harper and Trudeau say NDP tax increases will cause job losses
Trudeau says Harper has failed Alberta
Liberal leader Justin Trudeau was quick to point out Harper’s connection to Calgary in his attack.
“Mr. Harper continues to pretend that there’s a choice between environment and economy,” said Trudeau. “He chooses to say that you cannot build a strong economy if you’re protecting the environment… and that has been his failure felt right here in Calgary.
“He talks about being the best friend that Calgary has ever had, that Alberta has ever had, but he hasn’t got pipelines built, he has made the oilsands an international pariah,” Trudeau said.
“With friends like Stephen Harper, Alberta doesn’t need enemies.”
WATCH: Trudeau says Harper’s failure has been felt in Calgary
Mulcair blasts Harper’s relationship with provinces
Mulcair said Harper promised to change Ottawa but has only made it worse.
“Ottawa has become a more divisive and a meaner place. Our relationships with the provinces are more divisive and meaner under Mr. Harper.”
“I know that it’s part of my job if I become Prime Minister to sit down regularly with the provincial premiers to work with them on important issues facing them and on things that we want to bring forward,” said Mulcair.
Harper has made a few jabs at Rachel Notley’s NDP government recently, while Notley herself has remained fairly quiet leading up to the federal election.
READ MORE: Harper takes aim at Alberta’s NDP government
In early August, the Conservative leader criticized the Alberta government for raising taxes and fees and delaying a full budget until the fall.
“It’s a disaster,” Harper said at the time. “One rejected by the Alberta population.”
With oil low, how will you build new economy?
Moderator David Walmsley referenced the debate being held in Alberta and said there was a “clear sense that structural change is happening to economy.” He asked how the Liberals would build new economy.
“Because of the challenges with low oil prices, we have construction and engineering multi-national firms here in Calgary who are suddenly bidding on local contracts that they’ve never had the bandwidth to do before,” said Trudeau. “This is the time to invest in your home town, Mr. Harper.
“We need to step up as a government and be there for municipalities like Calgary who are trying to create new avenues of opportunities given the cyclical nature of our commodities.”
Harper said the Conservatives are making record investments in infrastructure, including a federal infrastructure program that’s “rolling out across the country.”
WATCH: Justin Trudeau says Harper hasn’t delivered to Calgary
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