Falk sees positives in budget

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This article was published 21/04/2015 (3264 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Not only does Provencher MP Ted Falk see promise in this week’s federal budget but, perhaps most significantly, he sees that his party’s biggest promise, a balanced budget, has been fulfilled.

Not only is the budget balanced but Falk noted to The Carillon that it comes through with a $1.4 billion surplus.

Speaking from Ottawa on Wednesday, Falk also pointed to other highlights including $5.8 billion for infrastructure spending and support for small businesses through a reduction in the small business tax rate from 11 percent to 9 percent.

“Small businesses are the job creators,” Falk said. “We want to be there to support them.”

Falk suggested there was little secret to the government’s ability to balance the books, noting the Conservatives have managed expenses carefully and kept close watch to ensure government agencies are operating within their means.

Some had argued the government would be hard pressed to meet its goal of balancing the books this year as it faced the revenue shortfalls from declining oil prices.

Those cheaper oil prices will, in fact, have economic benefits, says Falk. He notes that sectors that rely on fuel consumption, such as transportation and agriculture, as well as average Canadians can have money to spend elsewhere rather than fuel expenses.

While opposition parties have targeted the Tories with accusations of offering little to lower income Canadians, Falk says their commitment to such things as an increase to the limit in tax free savings account (from $5,000 to $10,000) will assist Canadians, especially seniors who are some of the biggest users of the tax free savings account program.

“For people living on a fixed income, this is a big benefit to them,” Falk said.

Falk says the Conservatives have also reaffirmed a commitment to families, pointing to increase child support payments expected to start flowing this summer, improved tax incentives tied to recreation related expenses, and income splitting.

While wage earners of any type can benefit from income splitting, Falk says lower income Canadians will see the impact the most.

“They are going to notice it much more than Justin Trudeau or Stephen Harper who can split their income with their wives. It goes a long way for those people.”

Falk also referenced a infrastructure funding program that may be a boon to local municipalities hoping for federal investment in recreation projects. Falk highlighted plans for the Canada 150 program which will be used to fund projects at the same time Canada marks its 150th anniversary. Many communities built arenas with the help of similar funding when Canada marked its centennial in 1967.

“A lot of those facilities are now outdated,” Falk said. “There’s going to be money set aside for Canada 150 infrastructure.”

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