Peace River-Westlock MP Arnold Viersen says that a plan to improve broadband connectivity in rural communities outlined in the 2018 Federal Budget is interesting, but poured water on the budget overall.
A total of $100 million has been earmarked to help expand broadband access to rural communities using low-orbit satellites.
“I don’t trust the Liberals to manage much, but that’s something interesting,” he said. “It’s kind of a novel thing. We’ll have to wait and see how it goes.”
The Liberal government released its 2018 budget Feb. 27. In spite of Canada leading the G7 in GDP growth and unemployment at it’s lowest in 40 years, the budget is projecting an $18.1 billion deficit — though $3 billion of that is a fiscal cushion for unexpected emergencies.
“It’s not much of a budget, it doesn’t look like the budget will balance itself by 2019,” he said. “Even if we go at the projected number it won’t balance itself for 25 years.”
Highlights of the budget include establishing an advisory council on designing and implementing a national pharmacare program, $3.2 billion over five years for science and research grants. Also in the spotlight is $1.4 billion over six years to help indigenous children in foster care and help keep First Nation families together and $900 million for indigenous housing initiatives. Currently, over half of children in the foster-care system are from First Nations.
One theme that is mentioned prominently throughout the budget is closing the gender pay gap. Aside from taking steps to ensure women on the federal government payroll are getting equal pay for equal work, the budget also allocates $1.2 billion for a parental sharing benefit that will allow non-birthing parents to take parental leave.
Income and sales taxes remain the same, though a $1 per 200-cigarette carton sin tax has been added. Tweaks to the controversial small business tax changes introduced last year are also included in the budget.
A tax credit for low-income earners is being re-branded as the Canada Workers Benefit and will assist people earning $30,000 or less by 2019 and has been expanded to include an additional 300,000 workers. The benefit allows workers to claim up to $2,000 on their taxes.
Viersen said that he was disappointed the Liberals had pushed back their plans for infrastructure development in Canada, noting that it would be another election before much of the originally planned development would be started.
He added he would prefer to see the budget balanced as soon as possible.
