There’s a much-used expression in Canadian politics, most often referring to the Liberal Party: “They campaign from the left and govern from the right.” It has been used today about the Stephen Harper Conservative government after the introduction of yesterday’s budget.

Progressive Canadians can surely be excused for wondering why — as it seems clear that the electorate prefers a centre-left campaign — that more of them don’t vote for a genuinely left party rather than two parties who are only pretending.

It is not difficult to document the record of the Jean Chrétien/Paul Martin Liberal governments as, for years, they were perceived to have promised progressive steps forward and then cheerfully brought in some of the most regressive measures Canadians had seen in decades.

Stephen Harper has now joined their deceitful club.

But there remain voices across the country who can see through the deception. Here are some of them:

Not a penny for housing

Yesterday’s federal budget promised no new funding for housing. In fact, over the past year, the federal budget for social housing was reduced by $45 Million. Not that the federal government is the only one to reduce housing budgets. Reductions at the provincial levels have been faster and deeper for the most part.

What is to be done with the growing housing crisis in Canada is a question that was not even hinted at in the budget. Canada still has 1.5 million households in need of housing assistance and waiting lists of 12 years and more for social housing in many cities.

Read more at the Canadian Housing & Renewal Association.

Budget missed chance to help house four million Canadians

The federal budget stressed giving Canadians a chance to reach their full potential, but missed one of the key components needed to do that — funding for secure, affordable housing for the four million Canadians in core housing need.

Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada

Millions trapped in nation-wide housing crisis

“I am extremely dismayed that there was no reference to new money to help address the poor housing conditions endured by the Aboriginal peoples across Canada in the federal budget,” said David Seymour, President of the National Aboriginal Housing Association.

The figures from studies commissioned by the federal government itself confirm what NAHA has been saying ever since new social housing programs were capped by CMHC in 1993: Aboriginal housing is the worst in Canada, and Aboriginal peoples make up a greatly disproportionate number among the homeless. The 2001 census shows 28 per cent of Aboriginals living in non-reserve areas are in core housing need.

National Aboriginal Housing Association

Harper budget doesn’t do the job for workers

“The March 19th Stephen Harper budget appears to be a budget structured to avoid an election,” said CAW president Buzz Hargrove. “The budget recognizes problems but fails to address them. There is a nod here and a wink there, but no real solutions.”

Canadian Auto Workers

Absence of leadership in federal budget“Stephen Harper has tabled an election-ready budget, but the new packaging of the Conservatives should not fool Canadians,” says Paul Moist, national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

Canadian Union of Public Employees

Climate change measures insufficient

The Green Budget Coalition has expressed that measures in the 2007 federal budget were simply insufficient for Canada to adequately address climate change.

“Climate change is the most fundamental environmental challenge we face,” explained Julie Gelfand, Coalition Chair, and Nature Canada President. “Canadians are clamouring for action.”

Green Budget Coalition

Federal budget ignores child care needs of working families

The federal Conservative budget dealt another body blow to universal child care in Canada, by returning only a tiny portion of funding they had previously cut.

BC Government and Service Employees Union

Harper budget leaves low income communities out in the cold

Though the Conservative budget claims to reduce taxes on workingfamilies, while cracking down on corporations, the opposite is the case,says the Association of Community Organizations for ReformNow (ACORN Canada).

ACORN says that the government is misleading Canadians in claimingthe 2007 budget is about tax fairness. “Hard working families” are beingtaxed for an extra $3 billion a year, thanks to an income tax increase onlow — and middle-income Canadians at the beginning of 2007.

“The Working Income Tax Benefit is a smokescreen,” says Imran Butt ofACORN Canada. “The government’s idea of “tax fairness” is taking $3billion out of the pockets of Canada’s low income families, while giving a$1.3 billion handout to the corporations.”

“Minister Flaherty is either lying to Canadians or can’t do basic math,both of which are appalling for a Finance Minister.” The increased tax onlow income families is a result of the income tax rate increase for thoseearning less than $35,000 from 15 per cent to 15.25 per cent. “The government claims towant to help people over the “welfare wall,” but at the same time theykeep building the wall higher and higher,” says Butt.

The Conservative government continues to proclaim that Canadians are taxedtoo much. “We promised Canadians that we would lower their taxes — and wedelivered,” they say.

“Stephen Harper’s message that taxes are lower isnot accurate. The truth is that increased tax rates are being applied tothose earning $35,000 or less, while corporations get billion dollarbail-outs. The government is playing a shell game and people will seeright through it,” says Butt.

ACORN Canada is demanding justice for low and moderate income Canadiansand an end to taxation that unfairly targets low income families. ACORNCanada is also working for change by operating two financial justicecentres in Toronto and Vancouver, which offer free tax preparationservices to low and moderate income Canadians.