Wednesday: Unifor Economist Jim Stanford takes on Stephen Harper economic record

KITCHENER, ON, Sept. 15, 2015 /CNW/ - Unifor Economist Jim Stanford will be presenting in Kitchener on the evening of Wednesday, September 16 at a free public event, deconstructing the economic record of the Conservative government, which has had the worst performance of any post-war government in Canada's history.

Stanford will be presenting the research documented in "Rhetoric and Reality: Evaluating Canada's Economic Record Under the Harper Government," authored by Unifor Economists Jim Stanford and Jordan Brennan, which tracks the performance of nine federal governments from 1946 through 2014.

"Canada's economy has never performed worse, since the end of World War II, than under the present Conservative government.

"The Conservatives are now trumpeting a small budget surplus, but it reflects creative accounting more than true economic and fiscal progress. And it cannot erase a decade of weak economic growth, sluggish job creation, and record trade deficits," said Unifor Economist Jim Stanford.

"We're thrilled to be able to host this event in Kitchener," said Unifor Kitchener Area Director Bill Gibson. "The KW Region has felt first-hand the consequences of the Conservative government's terrible economic record through the decline in the manufacturing sector and poor job creation."

Jim Stanford- Rhetoric and Reality: Evaluating Canada's Economic Record Under the Harper Government
Wednesday, September 16 at 7 p.m.
Local 1524/1106 Hall
600 Wabanaki Drive, Kitchener

*Free and open to the public*

Canada's economy slipped into recession in the first half of 2015, the second recession under Stephen Harper's leadership. The Unifor report evaluated the economic records of postwar governments on the basis of 16 different economic indicators, using annual data from 1946 through 2014. With the economic slowdown in 2015, the Harper government's performance now ranks even worse – compared to previous Canadian Prime Ministers, as well as to other OECD countries.

View the complete report here, the two page summary or the short explanatory video. Stanford will be available for interviews in advance of the event.

Other tour dates include Oakville on September 29 and Brampton on October 1.

SOURCE Unifor

please contact Unifor Kitchener Area Director Bill Gibson (cell) 519-589-6390