Martin - Layton Deal A Go

"This agreement is fiscally responsible. It is progressive. We agreed to it because we want Parliament to work," Martin told reporters Tuesday. Martin said the deal – which could enable his government to survive – will be paid for through projected budget surpluses of $9 billion. Full article: http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/04/26/martin-layton050426.html Also, here's Layton's statement: http://ndp.ca/cache/ndp.ca/newsdetail/nid-2511 6/04/2005 Jack Layton's Statement on Likely Agreement in Principle for Budget 2005-06 Good afternoon: When Canadians vote NDP, they expect us to work to get something done for people and the environment. They don’t send us here to play games. They send us here to work for their families and get as much done as we can for their families, their communities and our environment – within balanced budgets. For almost a year, the NDP has worked to get things done. We’ve some victories like on missile defense. But we were unsatisfied. Because we know that minority parliaments can work for people – the NDP created medicare and pensions in them. And we were serious about wanting to get something done for people and the environment. As I said on Thursday, I think there’s a crisis of faith in politics today. Too many people think parties work for themselves, not people. Because for too long, people have voted to make life better for their families … and then waited. Waited for 12 long years for action. As I also said on Thursday, the NDP’s in no rush to judge on the scandal but we are in a rush to get something done for people and the environment. There should be an election about Liberal corruption and broken promises and there will be. I believe we have an obligation to get as much done as we can in the short time ahead – which means job one is getting a better, balanced budget passed. Because it’s long past time politics was about people. It appears likely that we will have an agreement in principle reached with the government. Families will pay less for their kids’ education. Workers will get better training. We’ll reduce pollution. Build affordable housing. Protect pensions – and have a place in the world that makes us proud. This likely agreement in principle also gives real hope that the child care money and first installment of the gas tax can start to flow back to communities. It also lets the investment in the Kyoto plan move ahead. The Liberal plan doesn’t keep our Kyoto promise. It has major flaws. But it is vital we move ahead and ensure even the most basic first steps are protected …from year one to year five. I promised to listen to Canadians and I have. What they’ve told me is they’ve waited so long for a government to act that they don’t believe politics can be about them. I believe it should be about them. Which is why the NDP’s going to try and get something done – now. I promised Canadians I’d work for a better balanced budget that invests in people and the environment. Because our economy needs an educated and trained workforce. Our economy needs to be greener. Our economy relies on economic engines in cities – and the social services families depend on. This budget isn’t perfect. But it’s better. And it’s balanced, and it includes tax reductions for small business. But it also invests in people and our environment. We came to work and we did. Thank you. [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on April 27, 2005]