What they're saying

Fifth Report to Canadians

• “We need to continue to deliver the stimulus to which we are mutually committed and begin to look ahead to exit strategies and move to a more sustainable fiscal track, consistent with continued recovery.”

  — G7 Chair's Summary, The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, G7 Meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, Iqaluit, Nunavut, February 6, 2010

• “Due to the still-fragile nature of the recovery, fiscal policies need to remain supportive of economic activity in the near term. The fiscal stimulus planned for 2010 should be fully implemented. ”

  — IMF, World Economic Outlook Update, January 2010

• “Through Work-Sharing, we were able to keep our key staff during a tough time. We were able to maintain the integrity of our workforce skills. This allowed us to continue delivering quality products and customer service with complete respect to our employees and customers. I would recommend the program to any company that is experiencing a temporary reduction in business activities.”

  — Allie Craswell, Director of Supply Chain, Nova Agri Inc.

• “We would have had to lay people off. We have been able to avoid layoffs because of this program. It really helped workers. Without the program, they would have had to give up one fifth of their earnings. Now, through the Work-Sharing program, employees get benefits. It's a little less money, but they don't feel like they have to go out and get a five-day job. Replacing a job is just not that easy.”

  — Paul Stewart, General Manager Northern Uniform Service

• “When the economic downturn affected our enterprise client, they suspended a 460-unit project which was less than fifty percent completed at the time. Staff reduction resulted as we tried to rectify the contract with our client under strained economic conditions. Work-Sharing allowed us to keep the doors open and keep essential staff. Some staff members continued to seek out new opportunities while others were kept to expand and enhance the re-growth we knew would come. With the change in the economy and by diversifying our customer base, we would need to ramp up production again and keeping employees with key skills was imperative. Keeping 37 people employed allowed us to be ready for new projects and the restart of the previous project. This program also put us in position to rehire many of the staff that were laid off. We are one of a few organizations in the Swift Current area that incorporated the Work-Sharing agreement into their survival strategy. Work-Sharing has had a vast impact on the community of Swift Current and surrounding area.”

  — Tanja MacIsaac, Business Manager MODUS Modular Structures Inc.

• “We estimate that the tax credit likely bolstered renovation activity by an additional $4.3 billion above what it would have been over January 2009 to January 2010—which represents a 0.3% boost to real GDP. As a result, renovation investment was one of the first components of the Canadian economy to fully bounce back from the economic downturn … Were it not for government economic stimulus, renovation investment would have been materially weaker in 2009 … The renovation stimulus measure helped to support a Canadian economic recovery through increasing demand for housing-related goods and services at a time when most other areas of the economy remain weak.”

  — TD Economics Observation, February 17, 2010

• “I think there's no question it's increased economic activity, it's created jobs, it's definitely shown consumer confidence in renovating their homes, and I think it's done a lot of good for the industry and for consumers … it obviously has kept the industry stronger in these tough times and in job creation as well.”

  — Canadian Home Builders' Association. House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, November 3, 2009

• “I think this is a great idea. Anything that is getting people to spend money when they normally wouldn't and gives them a break at the same time is good. We are seeing money pumping into the economy for buying materials and other things and it all gets passed down the line, right down to the truck driving and transport industry.”

  — Mark Buyan of MB Home Improvements & Construction (Penticton, British Columbia). Penticton Western News, January 7, 2010

• “Manufacturers in Manitoba have been getting a shot in the arm from an unlikely source—the federal home renovation tax credit program, which is bolstering sales and saving jobs. The chief executive (Craig McIntosh) of Acrylon Plastics, which manufactures PVC window frames, said the home renovation tax credit program has sent window-frame sales into record-setting territory for the Winnipeg company. "The renovation side (of the housing market) just really took off in April and May and it hasn't slowed down at all … It was a record November for us." Before last spring, when the impact of the two-month-old federal HRTC program really started to be felt, Acrylon had been girding for the worst … Then along came the HRTC program … For firms like Acrylon, it was the perfect tonic … "We were getting ready for it to be a very slow summer … Then all of a sudden we were saying, ‘What recession?'"”

  — Winnipeg Free Press, December 2, 2009

Fourth Report to Canadians

• “…Canada’s large fiscal stimulus package and unprecedented monetary easing are supporting domestic demand. In this context, and with household and financial institution balance sheets stronger than in many countries, Canada’s economy is relatively well positioned to resume expansion.”

  — IMF, November 12, 2009

• “We are grateful to the Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada for this crucial support. The Knowledge Infrastructure Program funding will allow McGill to address a few of our most urgent maintenance projects that have been deferred for several years, allow for greatly needed renovations and upgrades at some of our research facilities as well as the construction of an innovative centre at the Douglas Institute.”

  — Heather Munroe-Blum, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University, September 14, 2009

• “We are expanding our ability to deliver more programs and courses in our communities, using technologies that until now were not accessible to us. The opportunities created by this investment will revolutionize the way we learn, and teach, in Nunavut.”

  — Mike Shouldice, Acting President of Nunavut Arctic College, September 23, 2009

• “We are extremely grateful to the federal and provincial governments for their investment in a facility that will benefit an industry that is so important to the economic development of our region.”

  — Greg Lee, President and Vice-Chancellor of Capilano University, Capilano University press release, August 6, 2009

• “There are now some signs of improvement in our industry. We hope to see an improved economy, and it is good to know that the Work-Sharing program was here to assist us when we needed it.”

  — Tony Davis, Director of Corporate Human Resources, Global Upholstery Co. Inc.

• “Due to current market realities, we needed to temporarily reduce production levels by approximately 20 to 25 percent. With the flexibility of Work-Sharing, we have the ability to retain a skilled employee base.”

  — Mara Doepker, Corporate Administration Manager, Doepker Industries Ltd.

• “This program clearly demonstrates the value of the partnership between the federal government, the province and TransLink in delivering improvements to Metro Vancouver’s transportation system.…Our intention is to put the dollars to work as soon as possible.”

  — Dale Parker, Chair, TransLink

• “…I would like to underscore the importance of the Home Renovation Tax Credit to the Canadian home improvement industry, to contractors, and to the many Canadian consumers who, with the help of the federal tax credit, are investing their own dollars to help spur the economy.”

  — Michael Rowe, Vice President, Finance, The Home Depot Canada (Remarks to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, November 3, 2009)

• “We are delighted that our co-operative will benefit from the federal government’s renovation and retrofit initiative delivered by CMHC. Not only will this funding make our co-op more energy efficient, but it will also help ensure these homes are available to meet the needs of future generations.”

  — Richard Silver, President of Haney Pioneer Village Co-operative

• “SIP units far exceed energy efficiency standards, and that will mean less operating and maintenance costs in a harsh Arctic environment. The use of SIP housing units is one of many means used by the Housing Corporation in a continuing effort, which is shared by Ottawa and the Corporation’s community partners, to meet Nunavut’s housing needs.”

  — Hunter Tootoo, Minister Responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation

• “This project will improve efficiency along one of the busiest sections of highway on Prince Edward Island. But beyond that, projects like these provide jobs and boost the economy on the Island. The Government of Prince Edward Island is very pleased to have been able to partner with the federal government to make these highway expansions a reality.”

  — Ron MacKinley, Minister of Transportation and Public Works, Prince Edward Island

• “Canada’s Economic Action Plan has been instrumental in assisting the Piikani Nation establish long-term and sustainable working relationships with professional contractors and suppliers, train and employ up to 35 Piikani Nation members, kick-start our market housing strategy and most importantly improve our living conditions.”

  — Reg Crowshoe, Piikani Nation Chief

 Source: "A Fourth Report to Canadians"

Third Report to Canadians

• "We have a pretty stable group of people here, and they don't want to leave any more than we want them to go."

  -Lyle Enns, President and CEO, Creative Connectors

• "By keeping all our staff, we are able to keep our skills base. We focus on training and keeping our people to allow us to serve the customer better. If an order comes in, we can deliver it quickly,"
  

  -John Simpson, Director of Personnel and Human Resources, Standen's Limited

• "Unlike many new tax policies which only get noticed by accountants and actuaries, the Government of Canada has successfully communicated the introduction of the Home Renovation Tax Credit to Canadians."
  

  —Jeff Walker, Senior Vice-President, Harris/Decima

• "What we are hearing from our dealers right across the country is that people are definitely taking advantage of this opportunity [the Home Renovation Tax Credit] to invest in their homes."
  

  —Rob Wallace, Spokesman, Home Hardware (Peter Zimonjic, The Ottawa Sun, August 4, 2009)

• "This new and exciting housing project comes at a time when both the Musqueam leadership and Musqueam members have identified our housing needs as the number one priority in our community. Through this project, our people, long on housing waiting lists, will have an opportunity to raise their families in safe and healthy homes."
  
  —Chief Ernest Campbell, Musqueam First Nation

Second Report to Canadians

• "The move to provide the (five week) benefit extension passes the test of getting more money into the hands of the unemployed and, in our view, marked a good compromise between providing short-term financial assistance to unemployed and cost."

  — TD Bank, Is Canada’s Employment Insurance Program Adequate?
  ( April 30, 2009)

• "On behalf of the entire University community, I thank both governments sincerely for this important investment.  It will make a world of difference in our ability to build the infrastructure our students and faculty need. 
  This investment is a major contribution towards our efforts to create a world class research and learning environment for both students and faculty."

  — The Honourable Allan Rock, President of the University of Ottawa
  (May 25, 2009 )

• "The government has clearly heard the message and embraced our vision of becoming the producers of the best quality, most innovative and greenest forest products in the world.  And it understands that in order to get there Canada needs to attract investment and secure the jobs of nearly 300,000 skilled Canadians forest workers and the communities they work in."

  — Avrim Lazar, President and CEO of the
  Forest Products Association of Canada ( January 27, 2009 )

• "Spring is giving new life to the residential real estate market.  The people that we’re seeing out there buying right now are a lot of first-time buyers.  There’s been enough incentives to help them out (such as the federal homebuyers’ plan and the first-time home buyer tax credit)."

  — Bonnie Wegerich, President, Calgary Real Estate Board,
  Calgary Herald ( May 2, 2009 )

• "Survey results released today by residential mortgage company ResMor Trust Company show that 94% of Canadian homeowners who are planning to do renovations between April, 2009 and February 1, 2010 will use the Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) introduced by the Federal Government earlier this year.  In fact, 39% of those surveyed said their decision to renovate was positively influenced by the introduction of the HRTC… 70% of Canadian homeowners surveyed intend to renovate their homes before February 1, 2010… 39% of Canadian homeowners who are planning renovations said their decision to renovate, or the amount they will spend on their renovation, was influenced by the HRTC."

  — ResMor Trust Company news release ( April 29, 2009 )

First Report to Canadians

• "The investments in worker training through EI, the extension of the EI work-sharing program and support to communities that have been affected by the economic downturn, are welcome initiatives that will help more Canadians keep their jobs and employers hold onto talented workers."

  —Forest Products Association of Canada, press release, January 27, 2009

• "They're lowering the lowest and middle income tax brackets. They're boosting the working tax benefit and the personal exemption. These are very good things particularly for low income Canadians."

  —Craig Alexander, TD Bank Deputy Chief Economist, January 27, 2009

• "These tax changes will put money back in the pockets of Canadians, boosting confidence and encouraging spending, which is critical to the retail sector and Canada's overall economic recovery."

  —Retail Council of Canada, press release, January 28, 2009

• "[Budget 2009] helps keep skilled workers on the job at a time when home building starts are sagging. I think it's a great opportunity to stimulate the renovation business across Canada."

  —Canadian Home Builders' Association, January 27, 2009

• "FCM strongly supports the federal government's commitment to invest significant new dollars in infrastructure projects that will put Canadians to work in 2009 and 2010."

  —Federation of Canadian Municipalities, January 27, 2009

• "Our industry is pleased the government recognized that the best and quickest way to get Canadians back to work is through investments in infrastructureevery billion dollars invested means more than 11,500 jobs."

  —Canadian Construction Association

• "[We] support the budget initiatives that provide short-term support to Canadians and businesses, facilitate the flow of credit through the capital markets, and lay the foundation for recovery."

  —Investment Industry Association of Canada, January 27, 2009

• "The government took critical steps in the budget to stimulate liquidity, provide incentives that will encourage manufacturers to invest in machinery and equipment."

  —Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, January 27, 2009

Canada's Economic Action Plan

• "[Budget 2009] provides the necessary support for economic stimulus and job creation."

  —Certified General Accountants Association of Canada,
  press release, January 27, 2009

• "[Budget 2009 is] a clever package and hopefully it will win the support of the House. I am confident this will work."

  —Glen Hodgson, The Conference Board of Canada

• "A clear strategy should help to restore consumer and investor confidence over the medium term. We believe it is an important step forward."

  —Canadian Chamber of Commerce