The 2015 federal budget unveiled Tuesday contained new measures aimed at cities, skills training, security, seniors and more.
Here’s how other politicians and leaders of national lobby groups are reacting to the Conservative government’s spending plans.
OPPOSITION LEADERS
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair:
“(Stephen Harper) is taking money from the middle class to give it to the richest people in our society. He’s going to create more inequality. Increasing the Tax-Free Savings Account is great if you’ve got $60,000 in your back pocket … Saying that you’re going to have income-splitting to benefit the wealthiest is great if you’re having trouble making a payment on your second BMW, but it does nothing for the average middle-class family in Canada.”
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau:
“This is not a plan for growth or for jobs. It’s very much a plan for the Conservatives’ re-election strategy. With this budget, they are helping those who need it least. They are not helping the middle class, and there’s no real plan for growth … Instead of coming up with a plan for low oil prices, they’ve instead simply assumed that oil prices are going to bounce right back up in a few years and they’ll be fine in the coming years. That’s not responsible fiscal management.”
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May:
“The words climate change are not even in the budget.”
PROVINCIAL MINISTERS
Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa:
"When it comes to transit, they've kind of missed the train, and they're not even in the station. The amount that's being brought forward, frankly, is only crumbs of what we need.”
New Brunswick Finance Minister Roger Melanson:
FIRST NATIONS
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde:
“We do not see any significant investments or a plan to close the gap in the quality of life between First Nations and Canadians. The cost of First Nations poverty is too high and everyone is paying for it when we should be investing in our shared future.”
BIG CITY MAYORS
Toronto Mayor John Tory:
“In today’s budget, the federal government committed to establishing a dedicated, national fund to invest in public transportation. This is a major step forward for Toronto and for the country. Transit and traffic congestion are the single biggest issues confronting Toronto and Canada’s municipalities.”
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson:
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi:
“I’m very pleased at this great start on transit we have from the federal government. We had been advocating for many, many years for a permanent transit strategy. We were the only country in the G7 that did not have a national transit strategy, and now we got one, which is terrific.”
EDUCATION
Colleges and Institutes Canada President and CEO Denise Amyot:
“We are very encouraged to see that the federal government recognizes this contribution in today’s budget and offers concrete investments to support skills training and education in Canada”
Association of Universities and Colleges Chair David Barnard:
“Today’s investments in research and innovation will help solve human challenges, boost creativity and innovation and make Canada’s economy more competitive.”
National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students Jessica McCormick:
“The government is telling students who have to work or whose parents can’t help them cover school costs to take on more loans with more interest in order to make ends meet.”
HEALTH CARE
Canadian Medical Association President Dr. Chris Simpson:
“Today’s budget really just nibbles around the edges of the monumental challenge of how we are going to address the health care needs of our aging population. The measures unveiled today are a good start, but Canada’s seniors need a comprehensive plan.”
Canadian Cancer Society President and CEO Pamela Fralick:
“Expanding the compassionate care benefit will benefit cancer patients, their families, and our health-care system. It will enable more Canadians to receive care at home and reduce costly hospital stays, while providing badly needed financial security for families touched by cancer.”
BUSINESS
Canadian Federation of Independent Business President Dan Kelly:
“Reducing the small business corporate tax rate was viewed by CFIB members as the most effective measure the federal government could take to strengthen the performance of small firms. We are especially pleased that government intends to legislate the full small business tax cut plan before the election.”
Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters President and CEO Jayson Myers:
“(Accelerated Capital Cost Allowance) will encourage manufacturers to grow in Canada by investing in the advanced production technologies required to boost productivity, compete in global markets and employ Canadians in well-paying jobs.”
With files from The Canadian Press
