Richmond families and seniors will benefit the most from the new B.C budget, according to two of the citys MLAs.
Many groups, however, are bemoaning a tight-fisted budget, which capped almost all government spending, but managed to cut the two per cent tax on international flights.
John Yap, MLA for Steveston, and Linda Reid, of Richmond East, labeled the annual financial plan prudent.
They both pointed to the new B.C. new home buyers bonus of up to $10,000, the B.C. seniors home renovation tax credit of up to $1,000 and the new childrens fitness and arts tax credits as reasons for Richmondites to be cheerful.
The theme is prudence during globally uncertain times. Were not an island here in B.C., said Yap.
When we look at whats happening in other parts of the world, some places are really struggling. But here in Richmond, there are many families trying to buy their first home, so the new first-time buyers bonus will help many families in the city, Yap told the News after the budget dropped.
However, the tax credit only applies to new homes, and generally only higher income buyers are in a position to make their first home a new home.
Yaps Richmond East colleague said shes positive the new tax credit for seniors renovating their homes will help them stay longer in their properties.
I hear a lot from seniors who want to stay in their own home, but it needs renovations, said Reid.
Were also a very family orientated community, so the new fitness tax credit will help many families.
The budget, however, was a major disappointment for an advocacy group, the Council of Senior Citizens Organizations of B.C. (COSCO).
Todays budget represents a major disappointment for B.C. seniors especially in light of the Ombudspersons recommendations to strengthen home support, and increase care hours in long-term care facilities, said Art Kube, COSCO president.
The $15 million for non-medical home support is an insult to seniors. Not only is it insufficient in scope, but the program completely ignores the criteria laid down by the Ombudsperson. The Ombudspersons report calls for standards, guidelines or directives, none of which are present in this program.
Whats really needed, according to COSCO, is a comprehensive home care and home support program designed to help seniors live with dignity and independence in their own homes.
Not only is this good for seniors quality of life, but it reduces the intake into residential care and acute care. Improving seniors lives in this way would actually reduce overall health care costs, and especially capital costs, Kube said.
Yap added, although the government put a cap on spending, services such as health and education are being provided for.
His view is not shared by the B.C. Teachers Federation (BCTF), which claimed school districts will struggle once again without $130 million needed just to keep up with inflation.
This means $100 million in cuts to public schools next year alone, said BCTFs president Susan Lambert, pointing out that the $30 million that is coming from the province in a Learning Improvement Fund is completely inadequate.
Former Delta-Richmond East MP John Cummins now leader of the B.C. Conservatives took a pot shot at the Liberal governments smoke and mirrors style accounting.
The government is claiming they are holding the line on spending, but most notably, they took the entire $1.6 billion expense from the HST debacle and applied it to the previous fiscal year, which makes last years expenses look higher and this years lower, Cummins pointed out in a news release.
Cummins also had a go at the province backing out of its plan to reduce the small business tax, claiming jobs and investment are now at risk in B.C.
Yap said that, while he would have liked to see the government follow through with its plan, he highlighted that small businesses have benefited from steep reductions in that tax for many years and we already have the smallest business tax rate in the country.
The plan was to bring it down to zero, but we need to exercise caution. Im confident the small business owners will see what were trying to do.
I think small business owners will be realistic and realize things are still pretty decent, said Reid.
Yap said the removal of the two per cent fuel tax on international flights also helps Richmond, with the claim that 100 jobs are linked to every single scheduled international flight that lands at the airport.
