New Westminster-Coquitlam MP Fin Donnelly says his office is fielding calls about three main issues – none of which are addressed in the new federal budget.
The closure of Veterans Affairs offices, the elimination of door-to-door service across the country by Canada Post and the proposed Fair Elections Act are the top issues among constituents contacting Donnelly’s office.
“Those three are the top of mind, lots of phone calls, emails, mail,” he said. “Especially in New West, I have lots of seniors who will write a letter.”
Some of the changes being proposed in the Fair Elections Act include prohibiting Elections Canada from having campaigns encouraging people to vote and eliminating the ability of the chief electoral officer to investigate election violations (something that would now be done by the appointed Commissioner of Canada Elections). The NDP has called for cross-country hearings on the sweeping changes proposed to federal elections in Canada.
Last week, the Conservatives unveiled this year’s budget – The Road to Balance: Creating Jobs and Opportunities. The government states that budget fosters job creation, innovation and trade and supports families and communities by keeping taxes low for families and improving the safety of Canadians.
“The budget is very thin on ideas and solutions,” Donnelly told The Record. “It includes many reannouncements of previous funding announcements.”
Donnelly said he was disappointed the budget didn’t deal with the Canada Jobs Grant program, which is an issue for B.C. and Ontario.
“There is still nearly 300,000 more people unemployed today than before the recession,” he said. “This budget has no significant investment to create good middle-class jobs. This conservative government has delivered eight deficit budgets in a row. They are delaying any new ideas until next year because next year is an election year. So they are playing politics while millions of Canadian families are still struggling.”
Donnelly said the City of New Westminster is interested in applying for funds through the Building Canada Fund, but the budget contained no criteria for applicants, making it difficult for municipalities to apply for funding.
“The Federation of Canadian Municipalities and municipalities need new money. This is a huge issue. Infrastructure across the country for many municipalities is an issue. There is crumbling infrastructure that needs replacement so it’s a public safety issue,” he told The Record. “Besides bridges and roads, there are buildings that need to be either upgraded, seismically upgraded, or outright replaced.”
The federal government followed up on the Feb. 11 budget by announcing details of an infrastructure plan two days later.
“Our government’s commitment to small communities has never been stronger,” Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a press release. “Under the New Building Canada Plan, we are providing predictable, stable support so that municipalities with fewer than 100,000 residents can build the projects that matter most to them.”
Donnelly said he could see no funding in this year’s budget to address rail safety improvements or fisheries’ issues.
“Nothing for B.C. Fisheries. We had the $26 million Cohen Inquiry, which was a good thing. I called for it,” he said. “Seventy-five recommendations – no money to implement any of them. Not even a mention of it in the budget. No mention of climate change.”
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation applauded the federal government for taking steps to balance the budget in 2014/15
“Stephen Harper promised tax relief once the budget was balanced. Canadians have been very patient,” said the federation’s federal director Gregory Thomas in a press release. “It’s time for the prime minister to deliver on his election promise and deliver tax cuts and bigger paycheques to Canadians.”
