Budget 2018: It all depends on where you stand

Here’s the thing about budgets. They consist of hard facts and a whole lot of indisputable numbers laid out by the very best government economists and accountants, that is if you’re the presenter. If you happen to be on the opposition side of the ruling class, a budget is nothing more than smoke and mirrors, a thinly veiled attempt to hide fiscal incompetence and a blatant effort to seduce an unwary population into voting for the same collection of crooks once again.

It was ever thus. Finance Minister Carlos Letao’s backside had barely hit his National Assembly seat yesterday after delivering his latest budget, when the howls of protest began. For Letao, his speech had been nothing but good news and a promise of a glowing future. For the opposition it was nothing more than an admission by the Finance Minister that he had “stolen” enough money from beleaguered tax payers over the past years that he could now afford to give a little back.

So what is the average voter to make of all this? Short of finding a one-armed economist, that is to say one unable to utter the phrase, “on the other hand,” the man and woman in the street is forced to wade through the claims and counter claims of all involved. A tedious task at the best of times.

The problem is that every item in the budget presented yesterday can be viewed from a multitude of perspectives, all depending upon where your political feet are firmly planted. Not only that but how you see the government’s efforts at spreading the wealth also depends upon your age, sex, tax bracket, occupation, family situation, personal health and a dozen other factors. The government must please us all.

Take the example of health care. This government, as has every government before it, promised to make the system better primarily by eliminating the waiting time for treatment. It had to deal with overcrowded emergency rooms, a shortage of long-term care beds, surgical delays for everything from hips to hearts, five-year waiting lists for dermatologists, a shortage of general practitioners and a dearth of audiologists.

Yesterday’s budget promises a 4.6 percent hike in healthcare spending, the biggest jump in years. The new money will go primarily to upgrading facilities, getting more nurses into the system, improving homecare for seniors and salaries for specialists. All worthy causes and a feather in Health Minister Gaétan Barrette’s cap. But if you view it from the other side of the National Assembly, it’s just not enough. To the opposition, Barrette is the medical equivalent of Genghis Khan who in a few short years has decimated the medical system, savaged hospital budgets, pushed nurses to the edge of exhaustion and picked fights with every governing board of every health institution in the province.

The Finance Minister also offered $2.2 billion in tax cuts for small and medium sized businesses who he acknowledges create more employment in the province than their mega-sized cousins like Bombardier and Alcan. Great for the potential entrepreneur and super if you are thinking of expanding you company.

Not so screams small business. The $2.2 billion in tax cuts will barely matter with minimum wages going up to $15 an hour. At the same time cab drivers will get compensation because the government has let Uber and the like decimate their business. An added irritant for the small independent worker is that the government will now require food trucks to hand out receipts for every steamed hot dog and plate of poutine they pass out the window. And so it goes. For every act of government “generosity” whether a 5 per cent hike in education spending or an extra $113 million for youth and culture, there are both winners and losers. That’s the

Afunny thing about a pot full of money; every time you take some out there’s a little less to go around.

Just remember, when you hear critics yell that the government is only bribing us with our own money when they increase spending willy nilly, that’s what all governments do. They take our hardearned cash and then they spend it on what they think we want or need. If we disagree we vote them out. Simple. nother busy St. Patrick’s month has happened in Richmond. On behalf of the St. Pat’s Society, I want to thank everyone who helped in any way with our various activities: corned-beef supper, parade, medieval banquet, and brunch. Many members and non-members contributed a great amount of time and effort.

Recently we have received a grant and formed a partnership with Townshippers Research & Cultural Foundation. This allows people to make donations designated to St. Patrick’s Society activities and receive a tax receipt.

Memberships form the major part of our funding so if you have not yet renewed or joined, contact Julie O’donnell at richmondstpat@hotmail.com or 220 Principale N., Richmond.

Thanks to everyone who supported the society or attended our events. We hope you enjoyed the “green month”!

ERIKA LOCKWOOD PRES. ST. PATRICK’S SOCIETY OF RICHMOND & VICINITY