Halifax West M.P. Geoff Regan was named official opposition critic for Public Works and Government Services by Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff on Tuesday.

“I am very pleased Mr. Ignatieff assigned me this responsibility as the Liberal team prepares for a critical fall session of Parliament,” Mr. Regan said. “Our leader has spent the summer listening to people in every province and territory and he’s made it clear the Liberal Party offers a clear alternative to the Conservatives; one that reflects the priorities of Canadians not the prime minister’s personal ideology.”

The Halifax West M.P. said Canadians are still worried by the lack of economic stewardship shown by the Harper government in these challenging economic times and anxious about the Conservative’s massive $54 billion deficit.

“While ordinary Canadians are struggling to make ends meet, the Harper government has squandered billions of dollars on fake lakes, unnecessary prisons or the appointment of 386 Conservative insiders to the Senate, courts and various boards and agencies.”

Mr. Regan said the government needs to revitalize and restore our economic base and build a stronger, more inclusive Canada.

“Our responsibility will be to challenge the Conservatives to respect our democratic institutions,” he added. “You cannot build a better Canada if you spend all your time attacking the census, handing out billions in untendered fighter jet contracts, silencing the veterans ombudsman or forcing civil servants to waste time counting economic stimulus signs instead of focusing on job creation.”

Mr. Regan said when Parliament returns on September 20, the Liberal opposition will hold the Conservative government to account for the costly mistakes they made this summer, and he looks forward to doing so in his new role as the critic for Public Works and Government Services.