Humboldt’s MP isn’t happy with this year’s federal budget.
“Never has a government spent so much to accomplish so little. Budget 2018 is a big disappointment,” wrote Kelly Block, MP for Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, via email.
The budget, tabled Feb. 27, comes with a $18.1 billion deficit and no plan to get back into the black in the next five years.
The budget features $5 million to improve access to the Canada Child Benefit; $170 million towards a new Canada Workers Benefit aimed at ensuring low-income earners can take home more money while they work; $10 million to improve rural broadband internet; $1 billion to improve Indigenous children’s safety, health, housing and drinking water; $340 million towards research; $249 million towards environmental initiatives; and $165 million towards addressing the opioid crisis.
“It is a plan that puts people first, that invests in Canadians and in the things that matter most to them,” said Bill Morneau, the finance minister, in his budget speech. “It’s a plan that builds on the hard work of Canadians, and that keeps us squarely focused on the future.”
The budget features no GST or income tax hikes, but will generate $43 million from taxing passive investments within a private corporation, $365 million from what it calls tax loopholes – including the “application of certain rules for limited partnerships in order to prevent taxpayers from obtaining unintended tax advantages through the use of complex partnership structures”, $375 million from increased tobacco taxation and $35 million from cannabis taxes.
While there isn’t much Block likes about the budget, she did say that as the shadow transport minister she liked the $81.4 million devoted to improvements to the Passenger Protect Program for airplane passengers.
“It is important that we address the issue of children being flagged by the no-fly list due to the fact they have the same name as someone who is actually on the list,” she wrote.
The MP said the budget fails to take advantage of a strong world economy and turn that into results for Saskatchewan residents.
“It remains to be seen what, if any, affect Budget 2018 will have on our province and the riding of Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, with their announcements in regards to Regional Development Agencies; funding to improve access to clean and safe drinking water on reserves, programs and strategies for Indigenous health; skills and employment training and housing; as well as rural broadband.”
The budget also featured a focus on women, with $105 million pegged towards women entrepreneurs, $28 million aimed at promoting equality in the workplace, $210 million to support women in other countries and other initiatives aimed at sexual harassment prevention.
“We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back,” Morneau said.
“Every Canadian woman should have the chance to succeed in the workplace, however she defines success. I believe Budget 2018 is long on symbolism,” wrote Block, adding she would have to see what effect the government’s spending on women entrepreneurs would have.
Update: It was incorrectly stated in a previous version of this article that the federal deficit would be $18.1 million. We were incorrect. The federal deficit for the 2018 budget is $18.1 billion
