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MP rejects deficit budget

Canada’s deficit budget is being rejected locally.
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MP Mel Arnold isn’t happy with the federal budget. (Morning Star file photo)

Canada’s deficit budget is being rejected locally.

Mel Arnold, North Okanagan- Shuswap MP, is voicing concern over the federal budget presented in the House of Commons today carrying a massive deficit for the second consecutive year.

“I am very concerned of the government’s fiscal policies that have added to the debt burden that Canadians will be paying off for years to come,” said Arnold. “Trudeau’s promise of limiting deficits to $10 billion a year has been broken a second time now and it is Canadians who will pay through higher taxes.”

Budget 2017 updated the 2016-17 deficit with an increase to $23 billion today and also forecasted a deficit for the coming 2017-18 fiscal year of $28.5 billion. The budget also increased taxes on certain goods and eliminated the public transit tax credit that allowed Canadians to claim 15 per cent of the cost of transit passes.

“At a time when Justin Trudeau is making life more expensive, he could have offered lower taxes and a job creation plan that actually works,” Arnold continued. “Instead, Canadians are getting nickel-and-dimed by this Prime Minister so he can continue to fund these deficits.”

Despite his concern with the deficit budget and tax increases, Arnold stated his resolve to continue working within the federal budgetary framework to promote the needs and priorities of the North Okanagan-Shuswap.

“The fact that Canadian communities require federal support does not give the federal government license to inflict deficit after deficit on Canadians,” said Arnold. “The fact that I believe that budgets ought to be balanced will not stop me from advocating for positive results on behalf of the people of North Okanagan-Shuswap.”