Belleville mayor pleased to see Feds plan to spend moving forward
Belleville’s mayor says he’s pleased to see the Federal Government is planning to spend on more than just the COVID-19 recovery.
Mayor Mitch Panciuk reacted to the Liberal budget, which was announced on Monday afternoon, saying there are a few areas that he feels will benefit residents in the city.
“First of all, long term care investments, helping first-time home buyers and helping with social housing in the country, all of those are good. And then lastly for our region, something that’s really important, is they seem to be doubling down on broadband funding to expedite those programs so they can go faster.”
Panciuk says if there’s one area he isn’t fully satisfied with, it is plans for infrastructure spending.
“We would love to see funds that are more generally available for us. For example, we may have to do road repairs, or bridge construction that don’t fit into ‘green technology’ or ‘transportation’, but would allow us to get a jump start on that.”
Panciuk also noted that there is some concern about the country’s debt level, its highest since World War II, but says “we haven’t had a crisis like this since WWII”.
Harrison pleased with child care investment, wants more spending on health care.
Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison said he’s disappointed in provincial healthcare aid in the new federal budget. The budget, released by the federal Liberals today, includes $3 billion over five years to health Canada to support the provinces. Harrison tells Quinte News that it’s not enough.
“Really, I’m a little disappointed there. The Federal Government should realize that we need to support health care, we need everyone to get these vaccines and to get back to work. Health care is a priority.”
However, Harrison says he was pleased with the announcement of a $30 billion investment into early child care.
“The federal budget today is talking child care and we know that child care has been a priority for the government for many years. Let’s hope they follow through with the funding this year that they’ve committed.”
Belleville Mayor Mitch Panciuk had echoed the same sentiment about the child care investment, that it was well-intentioned, but we’d have to wait and see if the government comes through on that front.
Ellis: Big supports for Bay of Quinte tourism sector
Bay of Quinte Liberal MP Neil Ellis says the new federal budget will help the large tourism industry in the Quinte Region.
The budget unveiled by the federal government Monday includes money for tourism recovery and wineries.
“Some of the things that really touch in our area is tourism. There’s been a $500 million tourism relief fund that’s been established, so targeted funding for tourism in the region. Also, $101 million towards the wine sector.”
Ellis also highlighted the spending commitments on child care, bio-manufacturing, transit, broadband internet and the extension of COVID-19 relief funds to the fall.
Belleville Chamber CEO applauds continued small business COVID-19 support
Belleville Chamber of Commerce CEO Jill Raycroft says that she’s pleased that the federal government’s new budget continues to support people and small businesses through the pandemic.
“We are happy to hear that support for businesses through rent and wage subsidies continues through September. Even more importantly, the government recognizes the pandemic does not have a firm end date and they will be firm with theirs as well.”
The federal budget released today included the extension of COVID-19 benefits through the summer into September.
CDC Executive Director Ingersoll says the wide net the budget casts is helpful
Community Development Council of Quinte’s Ruth Ingersoll says the federal government’s budget did a good job of touching the needs of everyone affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When you think of small businesses who are struggling and they’re not sure how they’re going to keep going, are they going to be able to hire people? I think that this budget would give them some hope and a little bit of support.”
Ingersoll also highlighted the $2.5 billion being allocated to housing, the long term care funding and the increases for old-age security.
Sloan: Liberal budget will lead to large scale deficit spending well into the next five years and beyond
The independent MP who represents Hasting-Lennox and Addington says there are some things in the Liberal budget he can support, but did find a “multitude of other issues presented in the budget” that he feels will have a negative impact moving forward.
Derek Sloan issued a statement following the federal budget announcement on Wednesday.
Sloan says he supports investments in long-term care, the planned increase in Old Age Security Payments and supports for seasonal workers, gig workers and contract workers in the air transportation sector.
As far as the issues he’s identified, Sloan says he will “reserve judgment on those areas until a later date.
You can click here to read his full response to the 2021 Federal Budget.
Lawrence: 2021 budget “seems more like an election platform”
The Conservative MP for Northumberland-Peterborough South says the Federal Budget announced on Monday “seemed more like an election platform than an economic recovery benefit”.
Philip Lawrence tells Quinte News while there seems to be some good investments in the budget, it’s mostly just a “potpourri of a billion here and a billion there”.
He says he would have liked to see “a fiscal anchor that gave us a track back to financial sustainability, similar to the 10-year plan Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole has put forward.
“One author noted many years ago that if you don’t have a destination in mind, any road will do. So we need a destination back to a balanced budget. Nothing severe or austere for sure, we need to recover, we need growth and we need investment, but we also need that path back to financial sustainability.”
Lawrence also issued his congratulations to Liberal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland for becoming the first woman to deliver a federal budget.
NOTE: This story will be updated as more reaction comes in.
