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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday January 30, 2009 - 7 Halton MP says budget will stimulate consumer spending By Tina Depko OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Halton MP Lisa Raitt said there are several aspects of the proposed federal budget that will directly benefit her riding. One is the economic development agency for southern Ontario, which will operate on $1 billion over five years. "We have developed a new development agency in southern Ontario and it recognizes the fact that Ontario has been hit pretty hard by what's happening in the recession, and that, to me, is a big part of our economic action plan for Canada, and specifically Halton," she said. Another highlight for local residents identified by Raitt is the oneyear home renovation tax credit of up to $1,350 per household. That program will be available until Feb. 1, 2010, Raitt said. "The ability for people to be able to do home construction and home renovation and receive tax benefits and incentives from the government is a big move forward," she said. "My department (Natural Resources) has a program called ecoENERGY Retrofit, which was really popular in Ontario and very well used. I think we will see the same thing for people who are wanting to do home renovations, maybe a little worried about the recession, not knowing whether or not to do it, and the government is there to help offset some of those costs." A question some Liberal MPs have pondered aloud is the speed of funding delivery for items in the budget. Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff recently asked how quickly the $12 billion earmarked for infrastructure would get to the municipalities that need it most. Raitt said plans are in place to get infrastructure money distributed as efficiently and quickly as possible once the budget is passed. "The Minister of Transport (John Baird) yesterday indicated that he had lots of applications ready to go already," Raitt said. "I know the towns of Oakville, Burlington and Milton have submitted to the Minister's office their infrastructure funding requests and the projects, and if they are shovel-ready, then the minister's office is going to process them very quickly. We have to get people moving and construction moving. These are not just announcements. These are things that will happen." The stimulus package offered in the budget will put the country into deficit. It is expected there will be a $34 billion deficit alone in the next fiscal year. Raitt said going into the red is necessary to help get the country back on its feet. "It is an economic action plan overall and we do see deficits for the next two years, but we have to make sure we stimulate consumer spending and we have to make sure we are "It is a Conservative budget first and foremost because there are tax cuts in there and we recognize the benefit of putting dollars into the average Canadian family." Lisa Raitt, Halton MP but Prime Minister Stephen Harper's successful bid for a prorogue temporarily dissolved Parliament. While Canadians have mixed feelings about the monthlong suspension of Parliament during these uncertain economic times, Raitt said it was the appropriate decision. "I always believed that prorogue was the right thing to do," she said. "When you see a very shaky coalition being formed, which is now dead as of yesterday (Wednesday), that would have to govern the country in foreign affairs and economy and all kinds of trials and tribulations we may have to go through the next two years, I think it was in the best interests of the country for everyone to take a breath, go out and do an analysis and a consultation as to what Canadians want and take a good look at what is going on in the country, and come back with a budget, which is what we did." helping families during the recession, because there is a recession going on," she said. While some political pundits are calling it a Liberal budget due to provisions such as an increase in employment insurance and funding for the arts, Raitt disagreed, arguing that it clearly has Conservative markings. "It is a Conservative budget first and foremost because there are tax cuts in there and we are recognizing the benefit of putting dollars into the average Canadian family," she said. Ignatieff said Wednesday that the Liberals will support the budget, with the stipulation that the Conservatives provide periodic economic status reports to Parliament. Raitt said he has put Canadians first by offering his support. "This is not a time for an election, this is a time for Parliament to work together and that's what the Liberals have done," she said. "They have taken a look at our budget and they know that we listened to Canadians and have heard what they said. I'm very pleased they are supporting it." Ignatieff's backing of the budget is the proverbial nail in the coffin of the Liberal-Bloc Québécois-NDP alliance. The end of such co-operation was confirmed Wednesday by statements by NDP Leader Jack Layton and Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe. The three-party alliance threatened to bring the Conservative government down before Christmas, www.volvoofoakville.com SERVICE DEPARTMENT OPEN SATURDAYS Phone: (905) 825-8088