February 03, 2009
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Cullen votes against budget
Terrace Standard
SKEENA – BULKLEY Valley NDP MP Nathan Cullen joined fellow NDP MPs on Monday in voting against the federal Conservative budget.
Speaking before the vote, Cullen said he would have no trouble in condemning the plan to spend billions to stimulate a sagging economy because the money was being used wrongly.
“In a general sense I would call this a missed opportunity and, in a way, a cynical budget. There is no help for the unemployed and there is no vision for where the country is going.It is a failed opportunity with no vision and no hope,” he said in a media call following the tabling of the budget Jan. 27.
Cullen was also critical of tax credits for home renovations.
“Money to renovate your cottage? What planet are these guys on? I have never seen such an unfocussed budget in all my time as a member of Parliament.”
The federal budget includes $7.8 billion for housing, more than half in the form of a renovation tax credit of up to $1,350 for each family. The remainder is intended for social housing for seniors, the disabled and aboriginal people, as well as low-cost loans to municipalities to fund housing.
Flaherty announced the extension of Employment Insurance payments for an extra five weeks for the next two years to cushion the blow for people losing their jobs in an international recession.
Federal tax cuts include an increase in the basic personal exemption amount to $10,320 for the 2009 tax year. The upper limits of the bottom two tax rates are being increased for 2009, meaning the first $40,726 of earnings will be taxed at 15 per cent, and earnings from there up to $81,452 will be taxed at 22 per cent. Income above that point is taxed at the highest federal rate, 26 per cent.
While noting that he is concerned that the portion on the Green Economy is only a half page in the budget document, Cullen said his biggest concern is that the money for infrastructure is still being tied to matching grants from municipalities and the province.
“During my economic forums I heard that people want the government to be a willing partner, and from municipalities there was a very clear message that they did not have the money to meet the requirements of these matching grants. Communities in a tough position are made worse by this while those that are prospering will be able to access this money, and that is not a formula for economic recovery. You don’t help a Whistler or Kelowna, you help a Hazelton or Prince Rupert, because they need the help,” he said.
Skeena NDP MLA Robin Austin also criticized the budget, saying that while it is nice for Employment Insurance benefits to be extended, that’s not the issue here.
“For people here who have run out of their benefits or who don’t qualify in the first place, this doesn’t help,” he said.
“This area has been in a recession for what now, seven and a half years at least. And it’s seen nothing but neglect from every government,” Austin added.
He, like Cullen, is also worried that northwestern municipalities won’t have the money to come up with their one-third contribution for any public works projects.
It’s why Austin says its crucial for the provincial government, in its Feb. 17 budget, to finally recognize that the northwest needs assistance.
“What we were expecting was either a mine or [Rio Tinto Alcan] modernization [of its Kitimat smelter]. Those look to be on the shelf. More than ever we need the government to jump start northwestern B.C.,” said Austin.
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