Mar 30, 2009
Markham
March 30, 2009 09:14 AM
BY KEELY GRASSER
Georgina Advocate
Markham will benefit from the provincial government's injection into Ontario's economy, according to Markham-Unionville MPP Michael Chan.
One feature of Thursday's provincial budget he pointed out is the more than $32 billion his Liberal government will dole out for infrastructure projects.
But what wasn't outlined is was what Markham-area projects will be funded from the infrastructure fund.
Thornhill MPP Peter Shurman, a Progressive Conservative, said he would have liked to know the specifics.
He pointed out some local projects - the subway expansion into York Region and progress on planning a Vaughan hospital - as things that could have been mentioned in the budget.
Mr. Shurman said that since specifics weren't released, we can bet that the McGuinty government will be "re-announcing" each project in the next few years.
He said that the infrastructure funding isn't all new spending, either.
Mr. Chan said he didn't have specific details on another major project many in York Region were watching the budget for, the Metrolinx plan.
However, he noted that he thinks the proposed expansion of Markham Stouffville Hospital is "going ahead nicely and certainly we want this to be built as soon as possible".
The ministry of citizenship and immigration, which Mr. Chan helms, has come out of the budget "very, very nicely," he said.
He explained that the ministry is receiving an injection of funding for programs for new Canadians including bridge training and mentoring.
Businesses will also benefit from tax cuts and the harmonization of provincial and federal sales taxes, Mr. Chan said, calling it an example of the government meeting the current economic challenge head on.
"I think this is a very courageous move," he said. "It had to be done."
When times get tough, Mr. Chan said, you simply have to be tougher.
Mr. Shurman said the budget disappoints him "more in timing than anything else."
The PC party, he said, was "begging" for economic stimulus two or three years back.
He said tax harmonization was something the party was certainly in support of.
But, he added, with taxes, "there's a time and a place."
He also cautioned people to be wary of an up-to-$1,000 rebate to help citizens offset increased sales taxes, since it will only be distributed for one year.
"What you've got here is you've got a shell game," Mr. Shurman said.
He also expressed worry about the increasing provincial deficit, adding that debt is okay, but not at the current level or timing.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business said the budget was full of mixed messages with tax cuts sitting alongside an increase the minimum wage and mandatory safety board coverage.
Overall, the moves seemed like good ones to Aurora Chamber of Commerce executive director Michael Keith.
"They've really cleaned up the tax situation for small business. They've made it simpler," he said.