Budget 2010: Leading the Way on Jobs and Growth

March 05, 2010

Ottawa – Ted Menzies, Member of Parliament for Macleod and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, is proud to announce a budget plan that builds on Canada’s economic recovery with action to create jobs and growth, sustains our nation’s economic advantages and includes a disciplined plan to return to balanced budgets.

“In keeping with Canadians’ priorities, the budget completes our Economic Action Plan – stimulus measures to create jobs now,” said Menzies.  “It takes additional steps to protect existing jobs and create new ones, and it looks ahead to secure Canada’s long-term growth.”

Budget 2010 will help solidify Canada’s economic recovery and sustain our economic advantage, now and for the future.  The budget plan has three key objectives:

• Delivering Year 2 of Canada’s Economic Action Plan
• Creating the jobs and economy of tomorrow
• A three-point plan to return to balanced budgets

Unlike the other political parties in Ottawa, the Government has been clear that it will not raise taxes or reduce transfers to provinces like Alberta, and seniors in the years ahead.  In fact, Budget 2010 confirmed the Conservative Government’s strong support for provinces.

Cattle processing facilities in Alberta will benefit from the $75 million funding allocated in Budget 2010 to support investments that help improve their operations.  This will contribute to ensuring Canadian cattle producers in all regions of Canada have continued access to competitive operations.

Alberta communities and businesses will benefit from the $14.7 million per year in ongoing funding for Western Economic Diversification for activities to support commercialization, enhance global competitiveness and drive economic growth and development in communities in western Canada.

Alberta will also benefit from continued targeted support in 2010-11, including:

• $43 million as its share of the following: the $1 billion Community Development Trust, and the $400 million Police Officers Recruitment Fund.
• $52 million for labour market training as part of a commitment of $500 million a year in new funding to provinces and territories, beginning in 2008-09.

“Our Jobs and Growth Budget continues a plan that is working,” Menzies said.  “It will help solidify Canada’s economic recovery and sustain our economic advantage now and for the future.  Our Government intends to be a partner in our economic recovery, not an obstacle to growth.”