Remember the shock Doc Brown had when he found out how much power the De Lorean would need to go "Back to the Future"?
Well I had that same feeling when I read the story about the Conservative's Federal Budget.... $85 Billion?!?!?! I have a few (well more than a few) problems with budget.
- It erases 85% of the debt we paid back throughout the late ninties and early 200o's. I'm sorry Paul Martin all that hard work you did restoring fiscal responsibility went out the window.
- If you are going to spend 85 Billion Dollars, why are you only spending 12 Billion on infastructure? If we spent more than that we could have rebuilt our highways, developed a world class mass transit system, especially for the Quebec City-Montreal-Toronto-Windsor Corridor, as well all the other major cities in Canada.We could have built wind and solar power stations from coast to coast and shut down most of our dirty energy sources. Not to mention rebuild crumbling public schools and our colleges and universities.
- Where is the cash for former Post-Secondary Students. How much money from former students is paying back the government for student loans (that shouldn't be paying Prime + 2%) instead of into the economy.
- Land Claims - while we were spending $85 Billion, why didn't we spend the extra few billion it will take to end the land claims issues (good work on getting that problem solved Mr McColeman).
- Stupid Tax Policy. The most moronic thing the Conservatives have done (and it gets us to this budget) is cutting the GST. Sales Taxes are equal taxes; those who buy more, pay more. So for Joe Cool Millionair, he can afford to buy fancy things like boats, cars, diamonds, etc and the GST is just an annoyance. Those at the poorer end of the spectrum pay very little because they are buying things like meat and vegtables and childrens' clothing - GST exempt items. (I'll get into this issue in another post).
All and all, a wasted opportunity for Stephen Harper to actually do something constructive, instead we get an attempt to buy everyone off incase the government calls. The amount spent in this budget is the NDP's Wet Dream, no one likes deficits better then Jack "I'm running for Prime Minister" Layton, and even he's against it.
In case you were worried, I'm sure the voice of Brant was heard loud and clear by the Prime Minister. Too bad that none of the development that might happen due to this budget won't happen because of Native Protests.
I hope you are not growing attached to your offices Mr. McColeman.... I think your stay might be shorter then you think.
To the other suffering regions of Canada - I hope you like your one newly paved street and tax cuts for the rich.
