By guest blogger Alison@Creekside
So what’s your vote worth to Steve?
In the budget, The Conservatives propose to add a $6 billion stimulus package to the $13 billion deficit they had already racked up so far and which they presumably wished to hide within this economic crisis package. We will all get $199 to $599 each, unless you’re really poor in which case you’ll only get $33. If you’re on a fixed low income, you get nothing.
Six out of 10 Canadians pay into EI but still won’t be eligible to receive it — no change there.
If you can afford to spend up to $10,000 on a home reno, you’ll get a 15% tax credit on it next year if you get it done by Feb 2010. Renters — bupkiss.
Personal income tax exemption will go up from the $10,100 already scheduled for 2009 to $10,320. That’s 2.2%.
Every dollar the feds put into infrastructure will be contingent on the provinces and municipalities ponying up 73 cents to match it — although Flaherty says they’ll be able to get around this and Iggy is going to challenge it.
Did I mention banks will get at least $200 billion with no upper dollar limit? Plus that $4.4 billion in cuts to business taxes?
Here’s the real story.
The whole purpose of tax cuts is to reduce the size and role of government in the long term. Less childcare, education, health and social security; more P3s and deregulation.
So for all the flap about the Cons throwing money around, this is still ultimately a neocon ReformaTory budget.
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