(Photo: Quinte News)
The first budget from the Trudeau government touches on key measures the Liberals campaigned on during the federal election, with much of the spending spread out over longer periods than promised, and deficits with no firm end date in sight.
The Liberals project a budget deficit in 2016-17 of $29.4-billion almost triple what they promised during the campaign dropping back only slightly to $29-billion the following year.
The Liberals are promising to make what they call “historic” investments in Canada’s infrastructure totalling $120-billion over the next decade.
The federal budget is committing $8.4-billion over five years to help indigenous communities.
The Liberals say they will keep their promise to introduce a new Canada child benefit.
Overall, the Liberals say qualifying families will see child benefits increase by an average of 23-hundred dollars.
Starting in July, many seniors who qualify for the guaranteed income supplement will see more money.
Finance Minister Bill Morneau says the measure, included in his first budget, will cost 67-million dollars annually to raise benefits by up to 947 dollars per senior.
Quinte West Chamber of Commerce
The Quinte West Chamber of Commerce officials view the federal budget as having some good news, but some bad news since there is concern about the size of the deficit.
Manager Suzanne Andrews says the proposed investment of 120 billion dollars in infrastructure over the next 10 years is good news.
Andrews says the increased child benefit for those with lower income means more money to spend and this helps businesses that have been struggling the last couple of years.
Belleville Chamber of Commerce
Meanwhile, The CEO of the Belleville Chamber of Commerce, Bill Saunders says a 50 million dollar investment to attract american tourists in the budget is a good idea, as is increased spending on rail service in this part of the province.
However, Saunders says the budget is a hit for small business, who were promised a reduction in the small business tax. That reduction didn’t happen.
Mayor of Quinte West
Meanwhile, the Mayor of Quinte West is also pleased with the commitment to infrastructure spending.
Mayor Jim Harrison tells Quinte News there are a number of infrastructure projects that could benefit from the commitment of $120 billion, over the next ten years.
But Harrison did say he wants to know how much of that money is available to cities the size of Quinte West and how easy it will be to apply and receive the funds.
Mayor of Prince Edward County
Prince Edward County mayor Robert Quaiff says he’s not pleased with the Federal government’s plan to put the country further into debt by almost $30 billion.
As a former financial analyst Quaiff says he still has to go over the specifics.
He says he plans to crunch the numbers Tuesday night to see if there is a hope for Prince Edward County getting infrastructure dollars and over what period of time.
Hastings Lennox and Addington MP Mike Bossio says the federal budget will benefit his rural riding directly.
Bossio points to money being sent on infrastructure and the internet.
Bossio says the new child benefit program and guaranteed supplement increase for seniors will also benefit his rural riding.
In its first budget the Liberal government says it will keep its promise to introduce a new child benefit program.
Executive director of the Community Develpment Council of Quinte, Ruth Ingersoll says this is good news for the lives of children.
Ingersoll says the move to increase the seniors benefits by $947 per senior is a good news as well.
