Sep 27, 2008 - 07:34 PM

By Reka Szekely

AJAX -- It was tough talk on the economy from Prime Minister Stephen Harper as he popped into Ajax for a rally on Saturday afternoon.

Prime Minister Harper appeared before roughly 400 people at the Ajax Convention Centre, where regional councillor Rick Johnson is hoping to unseat Liberal incumbent Mark Holland in the Ajax-Pickering riding.
The Prime Minister said his party is asking for a mandate to steer Canada as the world’s financial waters get rough. He accused his opponent of trashing Canada’s economy.

“Mr. Dion is so angry that this government is in surplus. The opposition tries to tell people that we’re in deficit when we’re in surplus, they try to tell people we’re in recession when our economy is still growing,” he said.

“They try to tell people we’re losing jobs when more people are actually working. We need a government and a parliament that is on the side of the Canadian economy, that will tackle our economic challenges by building our economy up, not by talking it down.”

In addition to Mr. Johnson, who introduced Prime Minister Harper, Pickering-Scarborough East candidate George Khouri, Oshawa MP Colin Carrie and Durham MP and cabinet minister Bev Oda were also at the rally. Finance Minister and Whitby-Oshawa MP Jim Flaherty didn’t attend due to the recent death of his mother.

The crowd brandished signs for all of the Durham-area candidates as well as visiting candidates from Toronto.

The Prime Minister briefly touched on his government’s investments in Durham, including $800 million gas tax dollars for the GTA, and the his government’s transportation plan which calls for the extension of the 407 east to Clarington.

But the majority of Prime Minister Harper’s speech focused on national issues, especially the party’s record on tax cuts. He said the average family now saves $3,000 in federal taxes each year.

He also attacked the Liberals on their Green Shift plan and said it would send Canada into a $12 billion deficit.

“Friends, the GTA does not need higher taxes. The GTA does not need a carbon tax and the GTA does not want this country to go back to deficits. Instead, friends, it needs the kind of prudent investments our government is making to help the economy grow.”

Prime Minister Harper also talked about his recent announcement to overhaul the youth criminal justice system and the $100 per month allowance for each pre-school child.
Clarington resident Penny Davidson said the crime issue resonated with her.

“You know, all this cry-baby stuff about give them a second chance, alright, give them a second chance, but not time and time and time again. Somewhere along the line you have to stand up and be counted and disciplined.”
Her husband, Dave, said he liked the Conservative’s GST reduction and the move to allow income-splitting for pensioners.

Ajax resident Mae Winter said she thinks the country needs Stephen Harper and a Conservative majority. She’s upset development is frozen in north Ajax, north of Taunton, where her farm is. The farm isn’t enough to make a living on anymore.

Before the rally started, about 30 people protested outside the convention centre. They included the Canadian Auto Workers union which recently launched the Give Tories the Boot Campaign and is calling the Conservatives out on the issue of unemployment.

CAW member Dean Lindsay vowed to keep chasing Mr. Harper.

“The minute we find out where he is, we’re going to be there. We’re going to make sure that he can see the face of the people that are being affected,” he said.