The Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-01-21, Page 6Page 6 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, January 21, 2009
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EDITORIAL
Budget has to work for
all Canadians
As the datedraws closer for the federal government to return to work,
there is much anticipation about the budget that will be proffered by
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty.
There has been no shortage of suggestions and offerings for Flaherty
as he prepares the budget of his life and that of the conservative party.
Given the economic challenges of the day, the budget has become a
document of monumental proportions and significance.
Over the past, several weeks, while the government was on proroga-
tion, the finance minister has been consulting with Canadians, mayors,
politicians and citizens from coast to coast on measures that should be
contained in the budget.
There have been a myriad of good and plausible suggestions for the
minister and the provisions that his budget should contain. And many
of those suggestions will be put to use, for sure.
The government of Stephen Harper, consistent with the logic put
forward by most G7 countries, will invest heavily into infrastructure
improvements and construction, building up large deficits in the pro-
cess. It is a necessary step in the recovery process and a step that will
modernize our dated infrastructure and inject a good measure of jobs
and spending into a limp economy.
Provinces, cities and towns are gearing up for the infrastructure dol-
lars that will become available and, as long as the money is put to good
and proper use, it's the best way to deal with .the issue of crumbling
assets and unemployment. That type of investment and deficit will give
Canadians the best bang for their tax buck. It is a good and wise invest-
ment at this time.
But Flaherty should also commit dollars to housing, unemployment,
daycare for working people, and retraining for unemployed Canadi-
ans.
There has been a lot of talk around general tax cuts for Canadians as
a way to inject dollars into the economy. Tax cuts for lower income Ca-
nadians and the working poor makes good sense. If they have more dis-
posable income, they will spend it on the necessities of life and pump
the money back into the economy.
Middle and high-income Canadians would tend to save any extra in-
come made available through tax cuts or pay down debt, which would
provide little or no stimulus to the economy. So, while Canadians are
looking for and expecting some tax relief in this budget, it is not the best
solution to our immediate economic problems.
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has rightly suggested
that tax cut emphasis should be on lower end, through increases in
the child tax and working income tax benefit and the refundable GST
credit. The group's report said that by investing $1 billion to boost the
incomes of the poor would in turn boost GDP by $900 million and cre-
ate 7,000 jobs because lower income Canadians spend what they earn.
The budget will no doubt contain prudent spending measures to stim-
ulate the economy and generate jobs and spending. But Flaherty should
not try to appease every wish and want. This budget must work 'for
Canada. {D.S.)
WHAAAYA MEAN THE FEDERAL.
GovERNmEttr is GPENfliNG
MONEY LIKE DRUt* E N SAILURS?
T1-HEY'RE. Gt vi tit, US
DRUNKEN SAttoRS A SAO
0
Cabbies' courtesy questioned
Dear Editor,
Where does courtesy start? Usually by your
parents when the children are young. Our
neighbour called for a cab to go to an appoint-
ment. This man is on 2 canes and has quite a
time getting around. The cab driver did not
get out of the car to assist this man in any
way.
A little later, the same cab brought this man
home and it was the same thing. I have
another friend, a cab driver, whom I've seen
many times get .out of his cab and help cus-
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Letters
opinion
tomers in and out, put their groceries in the
cab, and also help them into their residence.
Wake up, cab drivers, and smell the roses.
You might need assistance some day. Just
remember where your pay' cheque is coming
from. You might get a tip if you are courte-
ous.
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