Budget to Nowhere
If the political pundits are correct then the Harper Government has thrown out the first few planks of their election platform with yesterday’s Budget 2011 (part 1) announcement (here is a link to the Budget 2011 Speech if you want to read Mr. Flaherty’s words too). I dub it part 1, since there will be another one, if there is an election. Budgets can be fun and exciting times, and no doubt our friend Larry MacDonald has been locked up with a bunch of other folks in the budget enclave, Larry always has interesting stories from those lock ups.
So what does this Jim Flaherty’s budget do for you and me? Remember, don’t get too excited, because if there is an election and the Harper Government doesn’t get a majority or is removed from power, then we will be enduring another budget cycle again this year (if not many more). What happens with yet another minority government? Let’s not speak of such, it means more of the same kind of Government again, and I for one would love to see any Majority in power for a while (within reason).
Highlights
Given all opposition parties have said they will not support this budget, don’t get very excited about any of this however, some of the highlights from the Jim Flaherty Harper Government budget include:
- A balanced budget pledge by 2015-16, this is good, stop spending money you don’t have Harper Government.
- Lots of fun little tidbits of money going around like:
- $5 Million to the Calgary Stampeded for their 100th anniversary
- $5 Million to the Grey Cup for their centennial as well
- $25 Million over 5 years for Toronto’s harbor front
- Up to a $300 Tax Credit for those caring for a “disabled” loved one (how disability is interpreted is still unclear, whether it is disabled in CRA’s eyes, or another interpretation)
- Children are now counted as active if they are taking Tuba Lessons (i.e. the Active Child credit will include the Arts as well). Hope that is Marching Tuba Lessons.
- Elimination of mandatory retirement at age 65, for federally regulated jobs. Guess that means I can now work ’til I die? Maybe that wasn’t the exact idea behind it, but it may be how things end up.
- Helping lower-income Seniors out a bit more, with a top up to their old age security payments. Can’t argue with that one, no Politician is going to say that is a bad idea, but they might say it isn’t enough.
- More money for full and part-time students in Grants and Loans? Not clear on how that might help middle class folks, but it might. If you are a Doctor or a Nurse and go work in a remote area, your loans would be forgiven too (what is remote? Scarborough? Barrie?).
A well described Hodge Podge (or Dog’s Breakfast) of bits and pieces, but a little bit for everyone, and not much for anyone, fine and dandy.
Now let the fireworks commence, will the Tories survive the week? When will a Spring Election be? Is Jack Layton ready for a campaign with his dodgy hip? Will Mr. Duceppe wear a funny hair net? Will Michael Ignatief find another way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory? Why do I keep asking questions I can’t answer?
Hold onto your hats, this Budget may be forgotten, but some of it might come back in the fall, depending on who gets into power.
Useful Graphic For Debt Reduction Fans (like me)
The new generations always seem to have to pave the way for the old. Paying into pension plans that will never pay back out. The government needs to step in because the younger generations will be in trouble when they become the retiring generations.
The rich always gets richer and the expense of the poor. When will this change and when will a budget benefit the vast majority of the country?
The budget allows rich to more richer and this is how it is happening since ages. Its something every nation rich or poor is habituated.
All thanks to our politicians!
And with all respect to the senior citizens the government must also look into hiriing the more dynamic and energetic youth for jobs. It was great reading your blog!
Any budget in any country is set for the benefit of the rich and the super rich. Nobody gives a damn about the poor. It’s plutocracy at its best.
Elimination of mandatory retirement at age 65, for federally regulated jobs:
Who is going to provide government jobs for young generation. It seems a plan to avoid additional cost on old age people and forget new generation.
Why govenment is not focussing on the companies tending to out-source jobs. Those companies enjoy tax and infrastructure facilities in Canada, while forgetting social responsibilities increation of jobs.
Putting “trust” and “Harper government” in the same sentence is somewhat paradoxical, don’t you think? I suspect surviving the downturn relatively well had more to do with policies, laws and regulations developed by many governments, of all stripes, over the years, rather than economic expertise by the Harper government.
Excellent! Let the election rhetoric commence!
We have maintained a strong economy despite the world economy collapsing around us. I would trust the Harper government to continue to lead us and do not appreciate Layton and the Ignorant wanna be American disregarding the fact that they are about to cost Canadians dollars and stability in forcing an election that we do not want…
Interesting Rhetoric from the right… anyone from the Left care to counter?
Over $800 million back into the ecoEnergy program. This is the one I care about. Each dollar spent helps small businesses and the economy in a big way + people save money on power use while emitting less green house gases.
Good plank for their re-election campaign, I guess.