2011-11 (November)
Blaine Calkins November MP Report
Getting Back to Balanced Budgets
In June, our government reintroduced our 2011 Budget, outlining the next phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan which is critically important to Canada’s economic recovery. This week, the last of those provisions was passed and the Budget can now be implemented.
Budget 2011 is a low-tax plan of critical importance to the financial security of Canadian families. This Budget will help Alberta see a record high in major federal transfers and will also see growing transfer support for health care and social services. This increased support will help hospitals, schools, and other critical services in the province.
As part of that plan, we will:
- Keep taxes low for employers by introducing a temporary Hiring Credit for Small Businesses to support job growth,
- Expand work sharing; extend the Mineral Exploration Tax Credit, extend tax relief for investments in new equipment and machinery, invest in innovation to help our agriculture sectors grow,
- Offer up to $840 in new annual financial support for low-income Alberta seniors,
- Provide a new Family Caregivers Tax Credit and a new Children’s Arts Tax Credit,
- Provide loan forgiveness to attract doctors and nurses to rural Alberta,
- Provide a new $3,000 volunteer firefighters’ tax credit; and the waiving of license renewal fees for hunters and firearm owners,
- Look closely at eliminating government waste; limiting spending growth,
- Close unfair tax loopholes to ensure Canada stays on track for balanced budgets.
Our Government is focused on securing our economic recovery, while improving the financial security of workers, seniors and families. We have a responsible plan to achieve these goals — a plan that’s working and that needs to stay on track.
On November 21st, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) showed its support for our Government’s plan to return to balanced budgets in the medium-term as part of their annual review of Canada. As the IMF maintains its positive outlook for Canada thanks to our sound and stable economy, as well as the positive measures in the Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, this is yet another example of Canada’s global economic leadership.
Please contact my Constituency office if you have any questions or concerns on any federally related matters, postage free, at: Bay #6A, 4612 - 50th Street, Ponoka, T4J 1S7; tel: 403-783-5530; toll free: 1-800-665-0865 or visit my web site: www.blainecalkinsmp.ca or on twitter at www.twitter.com/blainecalkinsmp