The new Federal Budget --- comments from Ken, Jack and Michael

The new federal budget has been announced, and thankfully there are no new taxes … and an assortment of small goodies.  According to the CBC and CTV the government plans to get rid of the current deficit by 2015 / 2016.  I think most Canadian could look at this as an acceptable budget, and NOT one that should be voted own.

Interestingly, Ken Georgetti (Canadian Labour Congress) was on the news saying that while it could have included more, this was a budget that Jack Layton and the NDP should support.

So what were the comments of Jack Layton leader of the NDP??  Blah blah blah … we want more --- blah blah blah … it’s not enough --- blah blah blah … spend spend spend.  Seem to be typical and on the money for what one would expect.

No sense quoting Michael Ignatieff – if the Conservative had promised a sack of gold on every doorstep it wouldn’t have been enough, and he would have done better.

Here are the 2011 Federal Budget Highlights:

• No tax hikes and no tax cuts
• no major new spending programs and no substantial spending cuts.
• government on track to for a balanced budget within six years
• new family caregiver tax credit of up to $300 for people caring for infirm spouses, common-law partners and children.
• A top-up for the lowest third of seniors receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement, up to $50 a month for singles and $70 a month for couples
• a tax credit equivalent to $450 a year for volunteer firefighters in rural areas
• A tax credit on children's art programs ($75 on $500 spent)
• HERE'S A GOOD ONE that will helpfully provide help for people in rural areas looking for a doctor ... forgiveness of student loans of up to $40,000 for new doctors and $20,000 for nurses in remote and rural areas
• Legislation to enshrine as permanent the annual $2 billion Gas Tax transfer for municipal infrastructure
• Renewal of the $22-million Own the Podium program to support Canada's Olympic athletes 
• A "Helmets to Hardhats" program to help ex-military members to find work in the construction industry 
• No change in plan to cut corporate taxes to 15 per cent by 2012.

Again this looks like a budget that would normally have passed, but in the case of the NDP, Liberals, and Bloc all frothing at the mouth for an election, it's a budget which is likely to be defeated.

You can view the complete details of the budget online -- or download a .pdf copy -- by going to the Government of Canada website.