Tories Blame Premiers for Equalization Crisis

So really it wasn't the Gnu Conservative government that failed the Atlantic Provinces it was the other premiers. They insisted that Jim Flaherty come up with an equalization formula that broke their promise not to claw back resource revenues.

From Hansard Thursday June 14

Hon. Jim Flaherty (Minister of Finance, CPC):

Mr. Speaker, as all members know, the premiers had many meetings with the Council of the Federation and they were unable to come to an agreement with respect to the equalization.

The premiers, including all the premiers of the receiving provinces, have been asking for more than two decades for fiscal equity in terms of equalization in Canada and for a 10 province, principle based formula. That is what we have been able to arrive at.

Indeed, the premiers have been asking for a principle based, predictable, long term formula for equalization in Canada. We had an experts panel look at that. Yes, it is necessary that the national government act on this because the premiers could not agree.


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