Public consultations on sustaining the economic recovery were launched Tuesday by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

“The economic recovery remains fragile and Canadians remain concerned about the economy, jobs and their household budgets,” Harper said. “That is why our government’s number one priority remains the economy and we continue to be focused on creating jobs and supporting families.”

He pledged to control spending, cut the deficit, eliminate waste and keep taxes low. In the next couple of months, Harper, and various members of his cabinet and caucus will seek the views of Canadians on a long term economic plan, he said.

“Turning our fragile economic recovery into an enduring and robust performance over the longer term will also mean taking further steps to hone our competitive edge. This means building on our efforts to attract foreign investment, opening up new markets and opportunities for Canadian businesses and laying the foundation for long-term sustainable jobs,” he added.

IE