News Flash

A Mississauga Liberal MP has slammed federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty for what he has called his "bizarre and frequent outbursts" about the Ontario economy.
Omar Alghabra, who represents Mississauga-Erindale, said in a prepared statement in the House of Commons yesterday that Flaherty has, "set a new low."
Alghabra told the House that Flaherty's "vindictive pursuit is petty and void of substance. The Minister of Finance needs to realize that his old and archaic policies have failed Ontarians in the past and are failing Canadians right now."
Flaherty, a former Ontario finance minister in the Mike Harris government, called a press conference before the Ontario Liberals announced details of their recent budget. He blasted the Ontario government for contributing to the province's financial difficulties by refusing to reduce business taxes further and by continuing to introduce expensive new spending programs.
Mayor Hazel McCallion and Flaherty have been involved in a running feud in the past few months over the mayor's contention that the federal government is not doing enough to help cities rebuild their infrastructures. Flaherty has flatly denied the charge, saying Ottawa is investing heavily in infrastructure funding.
"This is a minister who promised to end bickering with the provinces. Instead he is initiating it," Alghabra said.