Economic Action Plan

By Jeff Helsdon
Staff Writer

With the

Haldimand-Norfolk MP Diane Finley is playing an integral part in planning for the second phase of the Economic Action Plan.

As Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, she is concentrating on employment insurance programs, how well Work Share is working – which she pointed out is currently keeping 165,000 people working – and the role municipal infrastructure program plays. As a part of this, Finley was part of a two-day retreat with senior cabinet ministers and the prime minister, focusing on how to get Canadians back to work.

Like other cabinet ministers, Finley was on a cross-country tour talking to business leaders, community leaders, retirees and people from the not-for-profit sector. She was on a whirlwind weeklong tour from the Yukon to Halifax in this regard.

"We're interested in their opinions, how we can continue this fragile recovery and how we can better position ourselves for the long term because we have to start planning for tomorrow."

At home, Finley said she is in constant contact with Norfolk Mayor Dennis Travale to get his input. She met with key stakeholder groups and members of the community recently to discuss jobs of the future, skills requirements and labour market issues coming out of the recession.

"Stakeholders clearly indicated that in addition to fighting the immediate impact of the global economic recession, the Government of Canada, along with Canadians and employers, need to look at the future to ensure that we can grow our economy as quickly as possible once the recovery takes hold," Finley said.

She is also the Minister Responsible for Southwestern Ontario, and in that regard set up a meeting with Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and the Southwestern Ontario Caucus. Such a meeting occurred before for the first phase of the action plan and Finley believes it does help ensure the area's interests are incorporated in the plan.
"While I can present the case to the minister, it always helps to hear it directly from MPs," she said. "The more times he (Flaherty) hears it, the better."

She took part in opening a cabinet minister's regional office in Kitchener. It is one of 13 such offices across the country

Her emphasis for the riding is on creating jobs and getting people who have lost their jobs the skills they need for the jobs of the future.

"While we are recovering, it's fragile," she said. "We have to concentrate on how to move forward. What we are asking Canadians is how we can make it work even better."

In neighbouring ridings, Oxford MP Dave MacKenzie has planned meetings with municipal officials and business leaders to get input while Elgin-Middlesex-London MP Joe Preston is hosting six pre-budget meetings.

The second phase of the economic action plan will be unveiled when the budget is introduced on March 4.