News

Why I voted against Budget 2010

Dear Constituents,

Budgets are about choices. As a former financial secretary, I’ve had to balance my share of books, and I know how hard it is to choose between competing priorities.

With Budget 2010, however, the Conservatives made the wrong choices and the Liberals helped them. Rather than helping the real victims of this recession, they chose to give tax handouts to banks whose profits just doubled.

GREEN-ENERGY MANUFACTURING PERFECT FIT FOR NIAGARA: ALLEN
Fri Mar 12, 2010

A solar energy manufacturing hub that will produce hundreds of jobs is great news for Welland, and could be the start of a green-energy industry boom in the region, said New Democrat MP Malcolm Allen (Welland).

“Welland is perfect for this company, and the impact of these new jobs will be felt throughout the region,” said Allen. “People in Welland should be very proud of their city today, and Oneworld Energy should feel confident that it has made the right choice.”

Malcolm questions Minister Ritz on his governments continued failures on food safety!
Question Period, Thu Mar 11, 2010

ALLEN: Mr. Speaker, the HVP recall has affected more than 100 products already and could be the largest recall in North American history. Contaminated HVP was distributed for nearly a month and after the contamination was detected, it took another two weeks before Canadians were told.

RECALL OF COMMON FOOD ADDITIVE REVEALS GOVERNMENT FAILURES ON FOOD SAFETY
Wed Mar 10, 2010

OTTAWA – The rapidly-growing recall of foods containing contaminated hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) highlights dangerous gaps in Canada’s food safety system which were ignored in the recent federal budget, says New Democrat Food Safety Critic Malcolm Allen (Welland).

FOOD SAFETY FORGOTTEN IN FEDERAL BUDGET: ALLEN
Fri Mar 5, 2010

WELLAND – Serious gaps in Canada’s food safety system were ignored in yesterday’s federal budget, says New Democrat Food Safety Critic Malcolm Allen (Welland).

“The government promised to make food safety a priority in its Throne Speech, but there is nothing in this budget to increase the number of food inspectors or improve our ability to prevent outbreaks of illness caused by tainted food,” says Allen. “The Conservatives are still dropping the ball on food safety.”

VICTIMS OF RECESSION LOSE OUT, BANKS WIN BIG IN NEW BUDGET
Mar 4, 2010

OTTAWA – People who lost their jobs and other victims of this recession are the losers in this budget while banks whose profits just doubled hit the jackpot, said New Democrat Leader Jack Layton.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Dear Constituents of Niagara,

Canadians’ chances of surviving an accident or emergency shouldn’t depend on their postal code.

Dear Constituents of Niagara,

Pensions should be protected in Canada, and people should be able to retire with confidence and dignity no matter where they worked. Canadians should never have to lie awake at night wondering whether they’ll receive the pensions they worked so hard for.

PHANTOM TRUCKS SHOW NEW MEAT INSPECTION REGIME NOT WORKING:
New Democrats Masse and Allen say safety of Canada’s food at risk
Friday, Feb 12, 2010

WINDSOR - New Democrat Border Critic Brian Masse (Windsor-West) says disturbing new information about trucks carrying imported meats that are failing to report for inspections shows that the Harper government’s new food-safety regime simply isn’t working.

“In the last month alone, an estimated 70 trucks crossing over to the Windsor area that were selected for inspection simply vanished,” said Masse.

ACTION NEEDED ON ABITIBIBOWATER PENSION SHORTFALL: ALLEN
Tuesday, Feb 2, 2010

OTTAWA – The government must act to protect the pensions that Canadian retirees have worked hard for, says New Democrat MP Malcolm Allen (Welland). Allen called on the government to meet with representatives of AbitibiBowater and the Communications Energy and Paperworkers Union to discuss regulatory changes that would resolve the pension shortfall threatening workers’ retirement security.