Andrew Scheer names Co-Chairs of committee to cut corporate welfare

Taxpayer handouts to wealthy executives, shareholders, and foreign companies to be eliminated, savings to be redirected to Canadians

Today, Andrew Scheer announced that as Prime
Minister he will appoint Kevin Falcon, the former deputy premier and finance
minister of British Columbia, and Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, the former
president and CEO of VIA Rail Canada, to lead the Commission on
the Reduction of Government Subsidy Programs to Corporations. This is the first
announcement of Andrew Scheer’s 100 Day Action Plan – the steps a new
Conservative government would take to help Canadians get ahead.

“You shouldn’t have to be a billionaire to get your
government’s attention,” Scheer said. “You deserve a government, and a Prime
Minister, whose first priority will be to help you get ahead.”

The Commission on
the Reduction of Government Subsidy Programs to Corporations will
review all business subsidy programs, including grants and contributions to
corporations. The commission’s mandate will include:

Reducing corporate subsidies by $1.5 billion
per year
Recommending performance metrics for corporate
subsidy programs
Reviewing innovation programs to ensure that
they are supporting Canadian companies that provide benefits, profits and
patents that stay in Canada.

The commission will be operated out of the Department
of Finance. A new Conservative government will also strengthen Canada’s regional development agencies, focusing on helping
small and medium businesses to grow.

“There is a truism I’ve
learned watching governments of all stripes throw taxpayer dollars at
undeserving corporations. Governments have a terrible record of picking between
winners and losers. I’m proud to have been part of a government that eliminated
all corporate subsidies, grants and equity investments to individual for-profit
businesses. I applaud the Conservative party and Andrew Scheer for their
commitment to scale back this corporate welfare and redirect it where it
belongs, in the pockets of Canadian families,” Falcon said.

“As in
all areas of government, spending taxpayers’ money must be efficient and
produce the greatest benefits to Canada’s economy. I’m honoured to co-chair
this review with a distinguished Canadian, and I’m confident our review will
yield the expected benefits,” said Desjardins-Siciliano.

“Hard-working
Canadians are rightly offended when they see their tax dollars going to further
the interests of the wealthy and well-connected friends, while Justin Trudeau
makes them pay more for gasoline, groceries, and home heating,” Scheer said.

SUPPORTING
DOCUMENTATION:
-Backgrounder