INDEPTH: BUDGET 2004
Feedback
CBC News Online | March 23, 2004
Viewer e-mail:
How is increasing the level of student debt helping students? I don't want
more debt; what I want is a break on my debt. It doesn't even have to be as
generous as the breaks for corporations, but something would be nice.
How
about not paying interest on our loans so we could at least start paying
down our principle? Why not give students the same rights to claim
bankruptcy as businesses? And really, do the Liberals honestly think that in
18 years $10,500 will fund a post-secondary education? It won't even cover
books by then.
The Liberal policies on education are a complete joke.
– Terry Sooley, Toronto
Yea! The government gave the military a tax break if they are serving on overseas missions that are deemed dangerous! They did that in the hopes of shutting everyone up about the fact that our military is about to reach its breaking point.
Sure, we get extra money if we are away on overseas missions that put are soldiers in danger, but what about the airmen that are flying around in aging sea kings that seem to just drop out of the sky? Do they get compensation? What about the all the other aging rusting equipment we have?
How about the fact that we don't have the proper equipment to get out soldiers to these deployments, and we have to pay other countries to get them there? How about the fact that our military is so small that the same soldiers are continuously being sent on these deployments?
We have nine infantry units. Nine. With all the deployments the army has been handed lately, it looks like certain units that have just got back from being overseas will find themselves there again before a year has passed. The military planners know this, and the government has probably realized this as well.
This tax break was given just to shut us up. It was given as a bribe in a way, so that when soldiers have to return to an overseas mission before the year is up, than maybe they will sign the waiver and not complain as much.
Yes, we got a tax break, but what good does that really do us? We still don't have the proper equipment, and we still don't have the manpower to sustain our commitments.
The prime minister told me this statement during the broadcast of CBC's "Your Turn with the Prime Minister": "I can tell you this. We are not going to send our troops abroad unless we're able to provide for proper rotation and we're not going to send our troops abroad unless they are as well equipped as any troops in the world."
I guess he didn't mean this. I guess he forgot that statement, and this tax break he gave us, was given in the hopes that we would forget that statement as well.
– Melyssa Van Tassel
This is a strong budget. I like that it is balanced and will have strong controls.
For those who want tax cuts, the government got stretched financially with SARS, BSE and military deployments. $2 billion was given to the provinces for healthcare. We can't respond to all of these crises and still cut taxes.
I think the government did the right thing.
– Bruce King
Well the government has obviously put great thought into this budget. Providing aid to the hard-done-by cattle farmers. Also providing a helping hand to those in the emergency health care of this country.
However, This government has not put forward any assistance to the already over worked and stretched Armed Forces. I know we as Canadians are not of a violent nature and most Canadians do not think we need a military force.
Contrary to this, I believe that a much-needed infusion of money is needed for our military to maintain the high degree of success it has had in various missions across the globe. I really don't think that anyone in Ottawa really puts a priority on this department, until they need them to serve in dangerous areas of the world.
Somebody in Ottawa needs to wake up!
– Sean Free, Georgetown, Ont.
The 2004 budget is a terrible budget as far a health care funding is concerned. I am really upset and disappointed!
The Romanow gap was not filled nor was there any indication of the long term, stable funding for health care from the federal government as recommended by Mr. Romanow in his Royal Commission. I could have missed it but I did not even hear or see the Romanow Report mentioned. Why? To me this is no way to build peace with the provinces or to keep our publicly funded, publicly delivered medicare.
Prime Minister Martin has said health care is important to him and his government but I didn't see it!
– Jacquie Christenson, Sedgewick, Alta.
This budget continues to illustrate this country's abandonment of its youth.
Government continues golden retirements to get rid of jobs entirely, not rehiring the next generation. Education "assistance" is laughable - students are allowed to go deeper in debt, with no job prospects, but if one has a child they may get $2,000 in the year 2022, scholarships are still taxed, and tuition costs as much as a house.
Try and get a family doctor if you are under 50 anywhere in the country. Existing MDs care for their existing full patient load, over 50-year-olds, mainly. Baby boomers may be getting less care than they're used to, but GenX has never known the level of health care older Canadians have lost.
The priority of this Liberal budget is debt reduction. They say they don't want to mortgage the future of the next generation. They're not. What they're doing is paying bills for the lifestyle baby boomers have enjoyed, and will enjoy as retirees, by sacrificing a generation.
In 20 years when boomers are in need of care and a tax base they will be cared for by immigrant slaves while their children flip burgers and pour coffee.
Shame on Canada.
– Greg A.,
Victoria
The federal government has totally missed the boat on public health threats. Hepatitis C already affects over 250,000 Canadians. Up to 70 per cent are infected but have yet to be informed. Not knowing, they are unable take steps to protect the health of themselves and others. Every year, another 5,000 to 8,000 more people become infected.
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research estimate that this virus will cost Canada $1 billion annually by 2008. What are we doing? The wholly inadequate funding of $10 million annually for everything from research, to education, to care and treatment support, to prevention, ends in one week and there is nary a peep on the issue.
It is good that the government is doing some planning and investment for future public health threats but what about the one staring us in the face? It is preventable and, for many, treatable. Where is the fiscal responsibility in ignoring a crisis we can actually do something about?
– Ken Thomson,
Grand Forks, BC
I understand that the farmers out west need some extra money due to BSE,
but lets start thinking of the Canadian military that are out defending
our nation in other parts of the world.
These members are not asking to
go but are being told to go to fight terrorism and to protect other
nations that have been at war or having crises.
One billion dollars to
the farmers and only 350 million for the military is a sin. Yes, the
farmers need help but let's think of these brave fighting men and women
who leave there families for a period of six months or more.
It is about time the government invests more money in the military to ensure
they are the best as they were during World War Two. The Liberals have
made the military a laughing stock of all militaries that are around the
world. They are the best trained for what they have, and can you just
imagine what they would be like with more modern equipment, one can only
guess.
Lets show this government how we feel on how they treat the
fighting/peacekeeping forces of today.
– Mike Jarvie
The native population must be worth more than the cows of Alberta. Why are the natives left out of the budget of almost every government?
The treaty process must be addressed by the government of Canada. Why can't the government agree to something about the natives of Canada, at least put more value on the natives than the cows of Alberta?
I am a Haida from Haida Gwaii. the government in the past denied the natives the right to the culture that we knew and outlawed the potlatches that we held and put us on small reserves took away all our rights.
Now we ask the government to show some good will and try to work something out with us, don't insult us by offering small portions of our traditional lands. Give us our due.
This budget does nothing for the native populations of Canada.
– Dwight Russ,
Haida Gwaii
The Budget looks fairly clean and if approved will provide long term
economic stability for Canada. I am delighted to see a responsible budget
with debt reduction as a key initiative as well as providing for the needs
of the poor, environment and Healthcare in a sensible conscientious manner.
This is a far cry from the overspending of past governments and brings
confidence to our future.
Thanks.
– Ron Wicksey, Toronto
The budget does nothing for a family who is earning more that $70,000
and has 4 students in post-secondary education
– Arnold Lee
CBC Management,
I am annoyed that once again the CBC has stepped where it should not have. Why on earth would you announce the budget measures before the Minister of Finance has announced them? I object very strongly to the media breaking protocol for convenience of programing issues..and you should not have announced one item before they were announced in Parliament for all Canadians. Just because, as a courtesy, you are given a heads up on the content of the budget you should NOT break protocol and announce things before the Minister of Finance presents his budget. This is just one more indication that the CBC, along with other media, thinks it can do as it pleases and shows no respect for Parliament whatsoever. It is fundamentally wrong and sends the wrong message about the status of Parliament in the affairs of Canadians. I have always been a supporter of CBC and its programmes but you have now overstepped the protocol that should have been followed and you should apologize to Canadians for so doing..
–Mr. A. Woodrow, Hamilton, Ont.
When will personal taxes be addressed. Also the high cost of fuel. If the government is serious about stimulating the economy and getting people to spend money these two items have to be addressed.
The government wants my support, but they not willing to listen to the people and correct the problems facing the general working and tax paying percentage.
Maybe a change of government is needed.
I am not going to hold my breath waiting for changes to be made to personal income tax and fuel taxes.
My continued support is no longer with you.
– Ron Radke
"Goodale also announced that Canadian soldiers will no longer pay income
tax for those periods when they are serving on missions overseas."
It is about time that the Federal Government recognized the sacrifice
our serving soldiers make by eliminating income tax on salaries earned
while serving overseas. Now we just need the money to restore personnel,
equipement and our national reputation.
– Sean, Ottawa
Yes, how rosey. And as soon as they are, if they are, reelected the former, "party-party-party to hell with the peasants", attitude will return. History has shown that it is a foregone conclusion.
– Paul M. Wicher, Whitby, Ont.
here we go again, nothing for the tax payers of canada, same old same old,forsure i won't be voting for the liberals, we never ever get a break, keep sending our tax dollars what the hell for??Shame on you Marten all the rest of you.how many years have we had fiscal restraint? and of course we will sit back and let the government spend our money the way they wish, no accountabilty.
– D&L Baxter
Hi,
I just wanted to point out that the article says Finance Minister John Manley when it should be Ralph Goodale.
– Janelle
It's good to see the government back on track financially!!
– G. Gallant
Dear Editor:
As a citizen, I have difficulty reconciling
the pronouncements of the Finance Minister
about "fiscal restraint", in the midst of
wanton and unbridled handling of the public
purse as exposed in the sponsorship scandal.
Theoretically, it is rosy to the eyes to read
about the billion surplus. But what good does
it do when ordinary citizens cannot enjoy, except
the select few--the friends of the party in power
who are wallowing from questionable job contracts
and ghost deliveries?
The promise ring hollow.
– Bob Gabuna, Winnipeg, Man.
This is a strong budget. I like that it is balanced and will have strong
controls.
For those who want tax cuts, the government got stretched financially
with SARS, BSE and military deployments. $2 billion was given to the
provinces for healthcare. We can't respond to all of these crises and
still cut taxes.
I think the government did the right thing.
– B. King
I am interested in your assistance for first year university students. Does this apply to a student who has just begun first year medical school after having completed the necessary requirements for entry to medical school?
– J. Pritchett
^TOP
|
|
 |
 MENU |
|
|
| VIEWPOINT: |
|
|
| RELATED: |
|
|
| MORE: |
|
|
|
