Gerard Kennedy

Ontario charities get lump of coal from Harper Government

TORONTO — Ontario charities and non-profit organizations have been disrespected and treated unfairly by the Harper government’s infrastructure stimulus program, Liberal Infrastructure Critic Gerard Kennedy charged today.

Social groups in the province were offered a little-publicized, bizarre mid-summer window in August to apply for capital funds. Many worthwhile efforts either did not hear of the call or could not make the stringent deadline, raising concerns that the government already had its preferred intended beneficiaries in mind.

Despite the urgency professed by the government, organizations that did apply had heard nothing for months until the department began to tell groups that were denied last week.

“Mr. Baird does better in the role of Grinch than Santa” said Mr. Kennedy, noting that the Infrastructure minister has been quietly handing out lumps of coal.

“The very groups that have been on the front lines helping people during the recession have been treated shabbily by the Harper government”.

Mr. Kennedy called on the Harper government to release all the applications made for infrastructure funds so the public can see whether their dollars were effectively allocated. He renewed his demand for a second round of non-profit applications with proper timelines so that worthwhile projects could be considered.

He also called for flexibility on the March, 2011 deadline for project completion, given the overly long delays on the federal government’s part.

“This is just one more example of Mr. Baird’s failure to create jobs in a timely way and both Ontario’s charities and the people they are now trying to serve will bear the brunt of it,” Mr. Kennedy added.

Mr. Kennedy pointed to government data released by the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s report in December proving only 15 percent of federal infrastructure funds for Ontario were producing jobs by September, a very far cry from the 90 percent success claimed by Mr. Harper.

Various media, academic and Official Opposition studies have also shown a strong bias in the allocation of funds away from unemployment needs to Conservative partisan benefit.

Timmins-James Bay federal Liberal candidate Marilyn Wood and Parkdale-High Park Liberal MP Gerard Kennedy — his party’s critic for infrastructure, cities and communities — wanted to assure them, however, that their views still count.

Gerard Kennedy has written directly to every community organization in the riding, asking for their help to save national gun control by expressing their support and he appealed to area residents to do the same.

Regina – Federal Liberal Housing Critic Gerard Kennedy called on the Harper government today to increase funding for the Saskatchewan programs to prevent and reduce homelessness in the face of rising rents and a tight housing market.

Conservative Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has a different bottom line on his refugee reform bill after all. After having his “last, best, take-it-or-leave-it” offer rejected by the Liberal Party last Thursday, the Minister blinked and moved the yardsticks much closer to fair territory.