Budget 2010: Leading the Way on Jobs & Growth MP Brown pleased with commitment to Healthcare and Olympic Athletes

March 08, 2010

The Conservative Government has launched an ambitious new federal budget focused on job creation and growth to support Canada’s economic recovery.

The budget also included a disciplined long-term plan to return to balanced budgets.

“Our Government presented a jobs and growth budget,” said MP Patrick Brown

 “We are completing Year Two of our Economic Action Plan to create and protect jobs now. We are also taking new, targeted measures to fuel new jobs in the future. Our forward-looking action will secure Canada’s economic growth for today and tomorrow.”

The budget plan has three key objectives. First, it confirms $19 billion in new federal stimulus under Year 2 of Canada’s Economic Action Plan to create and protect jobs. This includes many job-creating projects in Ontario such as $9.8 million over two years to support the Algoma Central Railway and the Toronto Northland Transportation Commission.  Second, Budget 2010 invests in a limited number of new, targeted initiatives to build jobs and growth for the economy of tomorrow, harness Canadian innovation, and make Canada a destination of choice for new business investment.  Third, it outlined a three-point plan for returning to budget balance once the economy has recovered. This includes ending the temporary stimulus measures as promised, restraining growth in spending through targeted measures and additional restraint through an in-depth review of administrative functions and overhead costs. In fact, Budget 2010 confirmed the Conservative Government’s strong support for provinces. Ontario will continue to receive increased federal support through Budget 2010. Total transfers will hit $18.8 billion in 2010-11, an increase of $801 million from last year and $6.9 billion than under the old Liberal government.

“I was very pleased to see that healthcare transfers to the Provinces under our Government will continue to increase by 6% each year. During the last recession, transfers for healthcare were dramatically slashed by then Prime Minister Jean Chretien. With chronic doctor shortages and over capacity in hospitals being the norm today, we are still reeling from the long term effects of those healthcare cuts. I am happy that we have not taken short term solutions to find extra dollars. Healthcare is too precious to jeopardize with temporary cuts.

On a personal note, I was also delighted to see funding for our athletes significantly increased and new funding introduced to encourage young people to follow their athletic dreams from the playground to the podium. The Vancouver Olympics has shown us that when we support our athletes we can compete with the best in the world and win.”  MP Patrick Brown

For more information and how Canada’s Economic Plan benefits them, people are encouraged to visit www.budget.gc.ca.