The Budget

I was hoping for a few more things like an increase in the GST to 7%  (products that are necessities are not taxed). I would like to see a lower percentage paid in the Dental Program; people will just have to budget. I think the increase in the OAS should be rolled back rather than increasing it for 65 and up; that is for the Bloc to hear. In terms of health transfers to the provinces consider instituting a Health Tax provincially as Ontario did and it is helpful to Ontario and the amount is really quite reasonable (it is incremented by income so low income people pay little or none). It does bring in several billion dollars in Ontario. We are in a crisis situation I believe as this is something we have needed to do since my first interest in politics which was in the mid 1960s when the Auto Pact was created. I was concerned that this industry was not home grown. South Western Ontario where I grew up was dominated by American companies and that never augers well in the long run for stability in a country. Jump forward to the early 90s and the American branch plants pretty much pulled back with Free Trade leaving the City of Brantford with over 60% unemployment and many other cities were in a similar state. We did refuse to buy the products unless they were produced here and that started us into this relationship which costs us money and one can see the result with a foreign company overproducing here and selling in the United States for a larger profit as our dollar is lower and our health care tax is cheaper. Then we have a change in government in the United States which doesn't like it that cars are made in Canada and sold in the United States and this is our present situation amongst other items. 

We must be independent and this is our time to shine; to remove ourselves from a dependency. We need to do it and I do have some thoughts on the budget but I am old and I am tired of thinking about it so will not express them as I really haven't formulated them to any extent. But I guarantee if this government is brought down then I will personally campaign against anyone who votes to bring on an election (all from my blog of course I am 80). Probably the Liberals will win that election anyway and perhaps with a huge majority. Although I am feeling more trustful of this Liberal Prime Minister I definitely do not want a huge majority. I like there to be lots of debate on each and every bill that comes to Parliament - not whining but putting forward valid arguments that, in my case, demonstrate conservative thoughts and values. I think the current Liberal Prime Minister walks the line where the Liberals and Conservatives meet but he does uphold the Liberal banner as their elected leader. At this moment in time I would probably like to see Melissa Lantsman as the leader of the Conservative Party. She is a clear thinker and excellent in the house. So we will see how all of this goes but definitely the budget has good intent; one person can not do it all and the whole of Canada has to get behind this notion of Canada forging ahead with new trading partners. Dropping the emissions cap is fine with me and I do want a pipeline to the east well before another pipeline to the west is considered. We must refine our own oil once again and save the triple charge that we pay when the refined product is sold back to us. Every little bit counts for sure. Ontario needs to get the Trans Canada Highway widened to four lanes and it should not take years. 

I cheer the CRA being revamped absolutely and again mention that call centres are too expensive; we need to be able to go online and fill out a form that receives a permanent number that has the details of the problem that we want solved. Then individual assigned would review that and there could be a callback or an email whichever best suited the solving of the problem (perhaps more information is needed and all of this can be done online without speaking to anyone until the entire case has been expressed and exposed because it is ridiculous to call in and have to repeat everything every time; an absolute waste of time and money). I believe it would actually be much quicker than the present system. It would also save ever having to hear the individual to whom you have spoken say  - I do not know the answer after you have spent time expressing the problem. That doesn't work; have all the details at hand and then the right person will call back. The government is a service and everyone in that service should be able to answer the questions.