Federal and Provincial Budget Time

For the first time in many years both the Federal budget and my provinces budget were handed down on the same day.

There were really no surprises in the Federal budget, no real tax increases except on cigs and alcohol (always seems to hit that) and a few credits removed (the transit credit,  which wasn't really working anyway....most people still drove to work).

However the Provincial budget is not good. It stops just before it could be said to be cruel.

Our provincial bus system will be no more, so that means another 300 people out of a job and perhaps some of our older citizens unable to get from smaller centers to larger centers for appointments.

Then the provincial sales tax is rising. It will be moving up from 5% to 6% and things that have not been taxed for a very long time (children's clothing, insurance premiums, construction) will now be taxed. This means everything will be going up.

Along with the Federal budget hitting tobacco and alcohol, so too does the Provincial budget.

Schools and the health sector will not be getting as much funding, which could mean a loss of jobs in both those areas. I have a feeling this will mean more children knocking on our doors trying to raise money for school upkeep and necessary upgrades to computers and such. I am worried that we will loose nurses and doctors and wait times could once again lengthen.

The light at the end of the tunnel is that Federal income tax was not raised, and neither was Provincial income tax, in fact we could see a slight decrease in provincial income tax next year.

It just seems that our children and those that follow could be inheriting a big fat zero in terms of work and getting ahead.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.