Rafferty Defend's Party's Position

John Rafferty is defending his party's decision to oppose the government's action plan aimed at stimulating Canada's economy.

The Harper government says 80 per cent of that plan has been now implemented.

The MP for Thunder Bay-Rainy River says he welcomes the recent infrastructure money for the district, but doesn't think it will create the jobs the government believe it will.

"The local projects are welcome," says Rafferty, "but how many jobs are they creating and for how long? Will it make up for the thousand jobs lost because of the government's unwillingness to help the forestry sector?

Rafferty says while the feds indicate 80 per cent of its plan is complete, only a handful of the so-called shovel-ready infrastructure projects announced have actually started.