FEDERAL BUDGET
Local Tory MP Motz reacts
The federal budget tabled Wednesday in Ottawa was billed by finance minister Bill Morneau as preparations ahead of the coming future of work, infrastructure and industry in Canada.
Critics called it a future filled with increasing debt.
“I’m not optimistic,” Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner Glen Motz told the News in a telephone interview from the House of Commons.
“We’re seeing the Trudeau Liberals are proving increasingly untrustworthy when it comes to managing the Canadian economy,” he added.
“They promised a $10-billion deficit to get (elected) in to government, then it ballooned to $23 billion in 20162017, and they’re predicting an astounding $28.5 billion (deficit) in 2017-18… Really?”
The budget, outlined late in the afternoon, sees money go into four main thrusts of Liberal policy, mainly skills and job training, infrastructure, targeted but relatively narrow tax changes with a promise to further review current credits, and high-tech industry development.
“The last plan failed to grow the economy or grow jobs, and their last plan for infrastructure is in shambles,” said Motz. “It appears the 2017 budget might be no different.” The government has announced $11.2 billion for infrastructure spending as part of a national housing strategy. Last year, the government outlined $21.9 billion over 11 years for “green infrastructure” projects, including transit and water management and delivery.
However, annual bilateral money totalling $361 million for agreements with provinces won’t start until 2018-19.
Mayor Ted Clugston had said earlier in the week the city has an interest in infrastructure funds, and in particular money for water treatment, social housing and transportation, specifically transit.
However, he said, it remains to be seen how the programs will be developed and how money might flow through to municipalities from the province, which provides some matching funds and sets priorities.
In terms of agriculture, the government will have to move forward with a replacement of the Growing Forward 2 suite of farm support programs in 2018.
There were few changes to temporary worker programs as accessed by low wage industries, though $280 million will be spent toward better recruitment of highly skilled workers and waiving the fees for families seeking to hire nannies.