Brison helps host political workshop

Scott Brison, federal Liberal Party critic for industry, science, and technology and Judith Moses, the party's candidate in York-Simcoe, hosted a successful platform development workshop at the Georgina Arts Centre in Sutton on Friday February 22. Many local dignitaries and concerned citizens were in attendance, including Bradford-West Gwillimbury mayor Doug White, Georgina mayor Robert Grossi, and several representatives from boards of trade and chambers of commerce in the riding.

"The input I received from the mayors and other citizens in York-Simcoe was informative and helpful as the Liberal Party prepares its platform for the upcoming election," said Brison. "I have been undertaking this kind of kind of grassroots engagement in order to help craft a platform that will resonate with people in communities across Canada."

In particular, the mayors outlined the infrastructure needs of their municipalities. They stated that without further commitment from the federal government to upgrade local infrastructure, they would be faced with a continuing infrastructure deficit and pressure to raise property taxes. They would prefer to see a commitment for stable, predictable funding for infrastructure development from the federal government, rather than be forced to raise local property taxes and fees further, said Moses.

"The Conservative government has abandoned Canadian municipalities and their needs," she said. "Finance Minister (Jim) Flaherty has claimed we're not in the pothole business in the Government of Canada. This is a shortsighted and meanspirited view of the role of government. Infrastructure is the key towards granting Canadians the tools to success in their communities, and towards increasing our prosperity as a nation."