OTTAWA – “The New Conservative Government’s 2007 Budget is tailor-made for all sectors of Canadian society,” says Dick Harris, MP for Cariboo-Prince George.

“Budget 2007 contains all the elements that help build a stronger, safer, better Canada. It restores fiscal balance, cuts taxes for working families, invests in priorities like health care and the environment, reduces our national debt, cracks down on corporate tax avoiders, and invests in key priorities that make Canada great,” continued Harris.

“Furthermore, there is an unprecedented level of support for British Columbia totaling more than $4.7 billion in 2007-08, including almost $3.1 billion in Canada Health Transfer, $1.3 billion through a renewed and strengthened Canada Social Transfer and $33 million to create child care spaces,” said Harris.

Here are some of the benefits that will be delivered to British Columbians through Budget 2007:

• Further tax relief for working families with the Working Families Tax Plan that includes a new $2,000 per-child tax credit, saving BC parents an estimated $173.9 million

• Budget 2007 also puts an end to the marriage penalty by increasing the spousal amount available to one-earner couples or a single parent, saving BC residents an estimated $35.2 million

• This budget also helps parents save for their children’s education by strengthening the RESP program and supports seniors by raising the age limit for RPPs and RRSPs to 71 from 69

• Further debt reductions resulting in savings for Canadians. After paying down $13.2 billion on Canada’s national debt in September 2006, Budget 2007 further reduces the debt by $9.2 billion. Thanks to the government’s Tax Back Guarantee, the interest savings on this year’s debt repayment will be returned to Canadians in the form of further tax cuts

• Strengthening social programs by providing $400 million for the Working Income Tax Benefit, with benefits for B.C. workers of $86.7 million, and $140 million to establish a National Disability Savings Plan

• Restoring fiscal balance by providing $39 billion in additional funding which will allow provinces and territories to better provide services and infrastructure that matter to Canadians.

• Preserving the environment by providing almost $200 million to B.C. under the new Canada ecoTrust for Clean Air and Climate Change to co-fund major projects that will result in real reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants

• Budget 2007 also introduces a National Water Strategy that includes $19 million over two years to keep our oceans clean and support greater water pollution prevention, surveillance and enforcement along Canada’s coasts–including the creation of nine additional marine protected areas, such as the Scott Islands on the Pacific Coast – along with $39 million over two years to increase fisheries science research programs to strengthen fisheries management and resource conservation

• In support of the Coast Guard’s role in fisheries science and enforcement, Budget 2007 provides funding of $324 million to buy, operate and maintain six large new vessels

• Modernizing health care by investing $900 million in the Canada Health Infoway, and providing the provinces with $300 million for a cervical cancer immunization

• Improving infrastructure by providing stable base funding amounting to $17.6 billion through the four-year extension of the Gas Tax Fund beyond 2010-11 and the increased GST rebate for municipalities. In 2007-08, this amounts to an estimated $185 million for B.C. A further $410 million is being provided to the Asia Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative, bringing total federal investment to $1 billion. This will support such improvement as roads, highways and road-rail
grade separations

• A safer Canada by providing $64.8 million over two years to crack down on gangs, combat illicit drug production such as grow-ops and methamphetamine labs, prevent illicit drug use and treat illicit drug dependency

• Supporting science and technology by providing $120 million to strengthen the operations of centres of excellence that are putting Canada at the forefront in important areas of science and innovation, including the Brain Research Centre at the University of British Columbia

• Supporting our farmers by providing $1 billion in commitments to farmers for improvements to national farm income programs, including $600 million to kickstart contributory style producer savings accounts and a direct payment of $400 million to producers to help address high production costs. Farmers in British Columbia will receive approximately $60 million under these initiatives

For more information contact:

Dick Harris, MP
613-798-6637

Further information on Budget 2007 can be obtained by visiting the Department of
Finance website or by phoning 1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232) or 1 800 926-9105
(TTY for the speech and hearing impaired/deaf)