Local reaction to federal spending plan

The mayor of Quinte West believes the federal spending plan unveiled yesterday by the Trudeau government is a “people’s budget”.

Jim Harrison says there’s help for people and organizations in several sectors and he likes it.

Mayor Harrison is pleased with measures to make housing more affordable along with money to help municipalities make their buildings more energy efficient, adding there’s also significant funding to help farmers stay afloat in this era of tariffs and other trade issues.

Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison (File photo: David Foot / Quinte News)

The Community and Development Council of Quinte which has been helping families solve problems associated with food insecurity and poverty since 1989 has given a thumbs up to the federal budget.

Executive Director Ruth Ingersoll called it an “election budget with lots of sweet things in it”.

Ingersoll liked the affordable housing measures, changes to the Canada Pension Plan and Guaranteed Income Supplement.

The CDC also gives the budget high marks for moves on pharmacare.

Ingersoll says federal investment to improve access to high speed internet in rural areas is also crucial to improving residents’ lives.

Ruth Ingersoll. (Photo: Quinte News)

The mayor of Belleville says he has “mixed feelings” about the federal budget released yesterday.

Mitch Panciuk likes the affordable housing measures announced in the spending plan and likes the ideas behind many of the investments.

However, Mayor Panciuk says he’d be a lot happier if the money promised by the federal government actually appeared.

Panciuk says that outside of gas tax money, there has been no federal investment in Belleville in recent years.

Mayor Mitch Panciuk. (Photo: John Spitters/Quinte News)

The Chief Executive Officer of the Belleville Chamber of Commerce likes some of the measures in the Trudeau government’s last budget before the October federal election but says there are still challenges facing businesses.

Jill Raycroft says businesses are still waiting for details on tax changes that were announced a couple of years ago and suspects that the “red tape” burden on business will increase under the new spending plan.

Jill Raycroft. (Photo: Quinte News)

The Chamber of Commerce is in support of plans regarding housing, tourism, broadband, and training.

Mayor Mitch Panciuk. (Photo: John Spitters/Quinte News) The Chief Executive Officer of the Belleville Chamber of Commerce likes some of the measures in the Trudeau government’s last budget before the October federal election but says there are still challenges facing businesses.
Jill Raycroft says businesses are still waiting for details on tax changes that were announced a couple of years ago and suspects that the “red tape” burden on business will increase under the new spending plan.
The Chamber of Commerce is in support of plans regarding housing, tourism, broadband, and training.