MP Gallant Likes Jobs and Growth in Budget

March 04, 2010

Photo: Cheryl Gallant, MP with federal finance Minister James Flaherty


Ottawa, Ontario… “Overall,  I believe the people of the Upper Ottawa valley should be very pleased with the federal budget,” commented Cheryl Gallant MP, Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, at the conclusion of the latest federal budget to be presented to Canadians by the Conservative government led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

“It is clear that experience in governing is paying off for all Canadians by the way our economy is being expertly managed by our Conservative government,” stated MP Cheryl Gallant. “The opposition coalition had it’s predictable quotes ready before Finance Minister James Flaherty spoke. Among the people who know, this is a good budget.”

“The best news for Canadians is no new taxes.   The Government will not raise taxes. We will not cut major transfers to persons and other levels of government. Conservatives have been pproviding Canadians with significant, permanent personal income tax relief and Canadian businesses with the lowest overall tax rate on new business investment among the major industrialized economies, said MP Gallant.”

There is help for the unemployed, providing more resources for EI benefits to support those who have lost their jobs and providing the training required to help Canadians get the additional skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow and to get back to work. This includes providing additional
benefits to long-tenured workers. The Government has also enacted measures to provide additional support for the self-employed. Our military members will benefit from improved access to employment Insurance Parental and Sickness Benefits for Military Families. The Employment Insurance (EI) program provides parental benefits to individuals who are adopting a child or caring for a newborn. For Canadian Forces members whose parental leave is deferred or interrupted because of military requirements, the Government will extend the period in which they are eligible by another 52 weeks.

“While I am very pleased that the Defence budget will continue to increase, I am also pleased that Budget 2010 provides $300 million on a cash basis to support AECL’s operations. The military and AECL are two of our largest employers. The financial support that has been given by our government has been consistent and substantial, observed Cheryl Gallant, MP.”

“The announcement in the budget regarding the forestry sector, particularly the enhanced tax treatment for clean energy equipment, complements my local efforts to promote a co-generation energy facility that would create a market in forest residues for our lumber producers and help return jobs to the working forest. All in all, this is a forward-looking budget that I look forward to implementing in the coming weeks,” concluded Cheryl Gallant, MP.