The main reactions to the federal budget

QMI agency

Tuesday, 27-feb-2018 18:11

UPDATE
Tuesday, 27 February, 2018 19:56

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OTTAWA | many politicians have reacted, on Tuesday, in the wake of the presentation of the budget the minister of Finance, Bill Morneau. Here are a few of these reactions.

• READ ALSO: Budget Morneau: deficits much higher than expected
• READ ALSO: 10 things you should know about the federal budget for 2018

Andrew Scheer, leader of the conservative Party

AFP

“Here’s the reality with Justin Trudeau: never a politician has spent so much to accomplish so little. Justin Trudeau had promised not to borrow that $ 10 billion a year, but the deficit for 2018 is $ 18 billion. Justin Trudeau fails to balance the budget by 2019, as he had promised. It ensures that future generations of Canadians will always have to pay. […] It can make all the promises he wants, but when it is necessary to act, to make difficult choices, establish priorities and work for the people who voted for him, Justin Trudeau fails.”

Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New democratic Party

Photo archives Agence QMI, JOEL LEMAY

“I am pleased to see action for pay equity, but disappointed that there is no investment. We need a government that has the courage to address the problem of inequality. The budget also lacks concrete measures to tackle tax havens and to address the problem of affordable housing.”

Martine Ouellet, head of the Bloc québécois

Archival Photo Simon Clark

“This is a budget disappointing that it does nothing for Quebec. Nothing for the 800 workers of Davie. […] Nothing for tax fairness in the trade of electronics with Netflix. Nothing to counter tax havens. […] Justin Trudeau and the liberal government to defend the 1%, they defend tax havens, they defend Netflix and foreign-based multinational corporations.”

Ginette Petitpas Taylor, minister of Health

File Photo Boris Proulx

Speaking of 690 million dollars over five years in the excise tax on cannabis provided for in the budget: “I would say that these are estimates that are conservative. Today, I am very happy with the investments that have been made to the question of the prevention and education on cannabis”

Elizabeth May, leader of the green Party

File Photo, AFP

“Unfortunately, this new budget 2018 does not include any new measure to deal with the crisis of climate change. Previous budgets have not met the targets of the Paris agreement, and there is nothing new here to do it. On the contrary, the government has weakened its position on the carbon tax. This is disappointing, because all governments need to do more.”

Maxime Bernier, the conservative mp for the Beauce

Photo archives Agence QMI, Dominic Chan

“The deficit was expected to be three times smaller this year than it announced during the election campaign. This is another broken promise from Mr. Trudeau. There is no credibility on the management of public finances. Just the interest on the debt accounted for $ 24 billion, can you imagine what we could afford with this money. This is disastrous in terms of the future.”

“Small businesses were very worried, and they received bad news today. It should not be forgotten that 80 % of the jobs in Canada are created by small businesses. It is they who create the wealth, but now we are penalized. We should celebrate them instead of penalize them.”

Carlos J. Leitão, Quebec minister of Finance

Photo Simon Clark

“For the most part, the federal government share the same priorities and is working in the same direction as us. Of course, not everything is perfect and we need to clarify certain aspects and to get some details, but we now have all the data in hand to finalise the preparation of the Plan for Québec’s economic 2018-2019, which will be presented in the coming weeks.”

Nicolas Marceau, spokesperson on finance for the Parti québécois

Archival Photo Simon Clark

“Today, Justin Trudeau has missed a new opportunity to respond to the needs of Quebecers. While those calling for tax justice, Ottawa responded that it will continue to support the use of tax havens.”

“The shipyard Davie must always be content with the crumbs offered by the federal government, while Halifax and Vancouver have shared tens of billions in contracts,” said Mr. Marceau calling the budget “one of the multiple missed opportunities for the Trudeau government”

Manon Massé, co-spokesperson of Québec solidaire

Photo Simon Clark

“To be progressive, it is not enough to accept deficits. The minister Morneau has to go look for a lot more income on the side of big business and big fortunes, as the liberals had promised during the election campaign.”

“Ottawa seems to have abandoned all ambition to tackle those who abuse tax havens and the fraudsters of the online business. The cultural industry and the traders of Quebec are still waiting for tax fairness with the platforms and predatory as Amazon and Netflix.”

Debi Daviau, president of the professional Institute of the public service of Canada

Reacting to the announcement of the payroll system Phoenix: “We have pledged money for a new system, but it is not clear exactly what they want to do for the next two years. But I hope that they will create a new system and not just do studies.”

Perry Bellegarde, chief of the Assembly of first nations

Photo archives Agence QMI, MATTHEW USHERWOOD

“This is $ 4.7 billion for aboriginal peoples. Yes, it is a large sum, but it is because the needs are huge! As national chief, I will not stop pushing. Things are moving in the right direction.”

The Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec

“The economic conditions favourable current gives enough leeway for the government to reduce the deficit, according to [us]. Unfortunately, it is the contrary that is presented to us today.”