Federal Budget Highlights

[Anonymous]

Here is a look at some of the budget's main points:

■No major tax cuts, spending falls for 3rd year in a row.

■$2.9 billion deficit this year, $6.4 billion surplus next year (2015-16).

■New Canada Job Grant starts April 1, with or without agreement of the provinces and territories.

■Retired public sector workers will pay twice as much for voluntary medical benefits.

■$500 million over 2 years to an Automotive Innovation Fund for research and development.

■$1.5 billion over 10 years for a Canada First Research Excellence Fund to fund research at post-secondary institutions.

■$391.5 million over 5 years for highways, bridges, dams in National Parks.

■Interest-free loans for apprentices and funding for new internships where skilled workers are needed.

■Money for bridges in Windsor and Montreal but details for Building Canada infrastructure fund still to come.

■$10 million more over 2 years for snowmobile and recreational trails.

■Legislation to cap wholesale domestic wireless roaming costs.

■$305 million over 5 years to expand rural high-speed internet.

■Legislation promised to tackle cross-border price gaps — but no details.

■Tax on cigarettes rises $4 to $21 a carton — a jump of about 50 cents per pack.

■Government will bring regulation to Bitcoin, the virtual currency, to ensure it isn't used for money laundering.

■Online casinos, charities and amateur sport groups will be scrutinized to prevent links to organized crime and foreign terrorists.

■Legislation promised to stop suspended senators from accruing pension time.

■Creation of a DNA-based missing persons index.





I highlighted my own personal faves in this budget. I hate to give any government credit, but I have to say we have the best federal government of any G8 nation. Most of our competitors would loves to be able to produce numbers like this after the recession.

[Anonymous]

Here is a look at some of the budget's main points:

■No major tax cuts, spending falls for 3rd year in a row.

■$2.9 billion deficit this year, $6.4 billion surplus next year (2015-16).

■New Canada Job Grant starts April 1, with or without agreement of the provinces and territories.

■Retired public sector workers will pay twice as much for voluntary medical benefits.

■$500 million over 2 years to an Automotive Innovation Fund for research and development.

■$1.5 billion over 10 years for a Canada First Research Excellence Fund to fund research at post-secondary institutions.

■$391.5 million over 5 years for highways, bridges, dams in National Parks.

■Interest-free loans for apprentices and funding for new internships where skilled workers are needed.

■Money for bridges in Windsor and Montreal but details for Building Canada infrastructure fund still to come.

■$10 million more over 2 years for snowmobile and recreational trails.

■Legislation to cap wholesale domestic wireless roaming costs.

■$305 million over 5 years to expand rural high-speed internet.

■Legislation promised to tackle cross-border price gaps — but no details.

■Tax on cigarettes rises $4 to $21 a carton — a jump of about 50 cents per pack.

■Government will bring regulation to Bitcoin, the virtual currency, to ensure it isn't used for money laundering.

■Online casinos, charities and amateur sport groups will be scrutinized to prevent links to organized crime and foreign terrorists.

■Legislation promised to stop suspended senators from accruing pension time.

■Creation of a DNA-based missing persons index.





I highlighted my own personal faves in this budget. I hate to give any government credit, but I have to say we have the best federal government of any G8 nation. Most of our competitors would loves to be able to produce numbers like this after the recession.

There doesn't seem to be anything to be worried or get excited about.

[Anonymous]

Hum drum can be a good thing when it comes to budgets. They aren't going to squeeze extra cash out of most of us.

[Obvious Li]

Here is a look at some of the budget's main points:

■No major tax cuts, spending falls for 3rd year in a row.

■$2.9 billion deficit this year, $6.4 billion surplus next year (2015-16).

■New Canada Job Grant starts April 1, with or without agreement of the provinces and territories.

■Retired public sector workers will pay twice as much for voluntary medical benefits.

■$500 million over 2 years to an Automotive Innovation Fund for research and development.

■$1.5 billion over 10 years for a Canada First Research Excellence Fund to fund research at post-secondary institutions.

■$391.5 million over 5 years for highways, bridges, dams in National Parks.

■Interest-free loans for apprentices and funding for new internships where skilled workers are needed.

■Money for bridges in Windsor and Montreal but details for Building Canada infrastructure fund still to come.

■$10 million more over 2 years for snowmobile and recreational trails.

■Legislation to cap wholesale domestic wireless roaming costs.

■$305 million over 5 years to expand rural high-speed internet.

■Legislation promised to tackle cross-border price gaps — but no details.

■Tax on cigarettes rises $4 to $21 a carton — a jump of about 50 cents per pack.

■Government will bring regulation to Bitcoin, the virtual currency, to ensure it isn't used for money laundering.

■Online casinos, charities and amateur sport groups will be scrutinized to prevent links to organized crime and foreign terrorists.

■Legislation promised to stop suspended senators from accruing pension time.

■Creation of a DNA-based missing persons index.





I highlighted my own personal faves in this budget. I hate to give any government credit, but I have to say we have the best federal government of any G8 nation. Most of our competitors would loves to be able to produce numbers like this after the recession.

There doesn't seem to be anything to be worried or get excited about.

true day......it was kind of a stay the course build up for next year.....taking 7 billion from over paid snivel servants to reduce the deficit is a good start......better if it was 30B but oh well......the rest is just chickenfeed to take up space



Shen Li...what is this bullshit going on in Alberta regarding companies firing canadians and hiring temporary workers for less money........i cant agree with this ceap.....i say they need some severe fines to teach them a lesson.....this is definitely bullshit........what say you.....????

[Odinson]

Sometimes you just turn me on with this finance stuff... Your talk about budgets is a turn on.

[Odinson]

You know that puffing of air just means you are turned on...

[Anonymous]

Here is a look at some of the budget's main points:

■No major tax cuts, spending falls for 3rd year in a row.

■$2.9 billion deficit this year, $6.4 billion surplus next year (2015-16).

■New Canada Job Grant starts April 1, with or without agreement of the provinces and territories.

■Retired public sector workers will pay twice as much for voluntary medical benefits.

■$500 million over 2 years to an Automotive Innovation Fund for research and development.

■$1.5 billion over 10 years for a Canada First Research Excellence Fund to fund research at post-secondary institutions.

■$391.5 million over 5 years for highways, bridges, dams in National Parks.

■Interest-free loans for apprentices and funding for new internships where skilled workers are needed.

■Money for bridges in Windsor and Montreal but details for Building Canada infrastructure fund still to come.

■$10 million more over 2 years for snowmobile and recreational trails.

■Legislation to cap wholesale domestic wireless roaming costs.

■$305 million over 5 years to expand rural high-speed internet.

■Legislation promised to tackle cross-border price gaps — but no details.

■Tax on cigarettes rises $4 to $21 a carton — a jump of about 50 cents per pack.

■Government will bring regulation to Bitcoin, the virtual currency, to ensure it isn't used for money laundering.

■Online casinos, charities and amateur sport groups will be scrutinized to prevent links to organized crime and foreign terrorists.

■Legislation promised to stop suspended senators from accruing pension time.

■Creation of a DNA-based missing persons index.





I highlighted my own personal faves in this budget. I hate to give any government credit, but I have to say we have the best federal government of any G8 nation. Most of our competitors would loves to be able to produce numbers like this after the recession.

There doesn't seem to be anything to be worried or get excited about.

true day......it was kind of a stay the course build up for next year.....taking 7 billion from over paid snivel servants to reduce the deficit is a good start......better if it was 30B but oh well......the rest is just chickenfeed to take up space



Shen Li...what is this bullshit going on in Alberta regarding companies firing canadians and hiring temporary workers for less money........i cant agree with this ceap.....i say they need some severe fines to teach them a lesson.....this is definitely bullshit........what say you.....????

Workers are being fired and replaced with temporary foreign workers?

 :o

[Odinson]

There doesn't seem to be anything to be worried or get excited about.

true day......it was kind of a stay the course build up for next year.....taking 7 billion from over paid snivel servants to reduce the deficit is a good start......better if it was 30B but oh well......the rest is just chickenfeed to take up space



Shen Li...what is this bullshit going on in Alberta regarding companies firing canadians and hiring temporary workers for less money........i cant agree with this ceap.....i say they need some severe fines to teach them a lesson.....this is definitely bullshit........what say you.....????

Workers are being fired and replaced with temporary foreign workers?

 :o

With us it is polish workers...

They cost less.

[Anonymous]

Shen Li...what is this bullshit going on in Alberta regarding companies firing canadians and hiring temporary workers for less money........i cant agree with this ceap.....i say they need some severe fines to teach them a lesson.....this is definitely bullshit........what say you.....????

No need to worry there handsome, that unfortunate incident with that Pacer contractor has been fixed. To their credit, the feds have cracked down on the abuse of the Temp. Worker program.

EDMONTON - EDMONTON — Dozens of Canadian ironworkers who were replaced by temporary foreign workers at an oilsands project north of Fort McMurray, Alta., have been rehired, the company said Thursday.



On Tuesday, the Alberta Federation of Labour voiced concerns that 65 ironworkers working for Pacer-Promec Joint Venture on Imperial Oil's Kearl Lake oilsands project were replaced by temporary foreign workers from Croatia.



Alberta Labour Minister Thomas Lukaszuk said his ministry was informed on Thursday that federal Employment Minister Jason Kenney has asked for an investigation into the allegations.



"The allegations are very concerning," said Lukaszuk on Friday morning. "Minister Kenney is reviewing this matter and then I will decide if there is any further need to get involved."



Lukaszuk said the Temporary Foreign Worker Program helps relieve Alberta's labour shortage, but only in job categories where the federal government is satisfied that no Canadians are ready to take the job.



"The program is not to be considered a source of cheaper or more convenient workforce," he said.



By Friday afternoon, Pacer-Promec announced it would re-hire the displaced ironworkers. The company said it regrets its actions and acknowledges the temporary foreign workers should have been assigned to other projects.



Kenney spokesman Nick Koolsbergen said officials will still review the matter.



"Those who are found to have violated the rules of Temporary Foreign Worker Program will be added to a blacklist and denied the ability to hire temporary foreign workers in the future," he said.

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/02/07/feds-look-into-claims-oilsands-workers-sacked-for-cheaper-croatian-labour">http://www.torontosun.com/2014/02/07/fe ... ian-labour">http://www.torontosun.com/2014/02/07/feds-look-into-claims-oilsands-workers-sacked-for-cheaper-croatian-labour

[Anonymous]

Those of us who care about fiscal responsibility have waited a long time for this federal government to start governing the way we expected them to when we voted for them. I realized they were in a minority situation for the first five years. Then the big global recession hit and Dion/Layton/Duceppe were prepared to bring down the government shortly after they increased their seat count in the new parliament if they didn't spend big on stimulus. However, now is the time to reduce spending, cut the size of the federal civil service and restore finances into the black unlike most of our G8 competitors.



This is a pretty good budget and most Western nations would be jealous of it.

The less the better. Especially after the spending splurges of the past few years.



Reacting to Tuesday's budget, NDP leader Tom Mulcair complained "there's simply not very much in this budget."



We wish. If true, that would be a fiscal conservative dream budget.



No, there's actually a lot there. A whole whopping $279.2 billion worth.



But here's the main reason we approve of this budget: That figure is lower than last year's budget -- which was $280.5 billion.



It may be a minor change, but it's a change in the right direction.



Two years ago in this editorial space we complained that the 2012 budget "was not the budget Canadians anticipated from a Conservative government that finally had its majority."



This year, we're finally seeing conservative principles in action.



It's not just the budget total that's going down -- the deficit is too. And more than was previously projected.



Last year's budget pegged the 2014-2015 deficit at $6.6 billion. Now it's been brought down to $2.9 billion.



Flaherty acknowledged he could even eliminate that deficit, he just wants to hold on to a $3 billion contingency fund. We'd rather it be balanced, but like the news nonetheless.



In the 2013 budget, the first surplus slated for 2015-2016 was pegged at only $800 million. Now that's shot up to $6.4 billion. Great news.



It's amusing to watch Liberal leader Justin Trudeau criticize this budget. He's not arguing it does too much. He's arguing it does too little for Canadians. Which puts him in an interesting position.



Does he have a problem with reducing the debt? Does he have a problem with balanced budgets?



After all, the last incarnation of the Liberals under Jean Chretien and Paul Martin did just that. More than the current Conservatives have done so far.



Perhaps Trudeau is giving heads up that he's leading a very different Liberal Party.



Flaherty is a year away from fulfilling his promise of delivering a balanced budget. "We're the envy of the Western world," he told David Akin on Sun News Network Tuesday night.



While we urged the Conservatives to balance sooner and cut deeper, it's pretty clear that they're at least heading in the right direction.



You can't say the same for the other guys.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2014/02/11/budget-on-the-right-path">http://www.edmontonsun.com/2014/02/11/b ... right-path">http://www.edmontonsun.com/2014/02/11/budget-on-the-right-path