More than a few people sent words my way regarding my column on the budget.
Some thought I'd hit the nail on the head, others continued to defend a budget many of them would have actually rejected had it been presented before last October. But most importantly, someone had the gall to ask me what I would do if I were in charge. That person deserves an explanation, and so here are the things I'd do if I wrote the 2016 federal budget.
But before we go on to my brilliant redrawing of the budget, I'm going to ask that we assume three things: first, the results in October would stand - it would still be a Liberal government in Ottawa; second, the promised $10 billion deficit was what supporters voted for and opposers expected; and three, in caucus as well as cabinet, fellow Martin-Liberals and I have triumphed against Wynne-Liberals regarding taxes and policy.
My first budget line item would be the raising of the GST back to pre-Harper levels, from five per cent to seven per cent, while simultaneously following through on the promise to reduce the income tax on the middle class. This would allow for better financing of all the goodies my spendthrift friends in Ottawa want, while actually moving taxation away from penalizing income. I would also begin closed-door talks with Western premiers to seek the implementation of a universal HST - even in Alberta.
My second major budgetary item would be a $5 billion investment in infrastructure - and we're speaking of the deficit now. When the oxygen masks come out on a plane, you're supposed to help yourself out first and I believe they have a point: the first half of this spending would be on federal bridges, roads, etc. desperately in need of repair. The second half would be allocated to partnering with municipalities and provinces on their most serious needs.
One more word on this $2.5 billion for premiers and mayors. While these groups are notorious for simply shouting for more money when the feds are involved, I would make use of my many interns at Langevin to find out what work has been waiting on the side of provincial and city staffer's desks for proper funding. Knowing this, my government would be better positioned to bargain with them - or bludgeon them Frank Underwood style, whichever is necessary.
My third major budget item would be dealing with aboriginal issues, especially health and education. It goes without saying I would never have repealed the accountability legislation related to band finances, but with new-found responsibility ought to come new-found funding to combat the challenges people face on- and off-reserve. And $2 billion more in funding for those subject to the Indian Act would certainly begin to alleviate some of the worst pressures.
But before I explain the $3 billion left of my $10 billion deficit, I think it's important to point out that having defeated the godless commies within cabinet, I assume I'd be able to leave well enough alone. Thus, no money and political capital would be wastefully expended repealing the Harper legacy: the Office of Religious Freedom, child care benefit and the names of various government ministries would all go untouched, saving millions of dollars.
Back to the deficit, I would assume a cost of $600 million to get all these initiatives off the ground successfully, which would be amortized over four years of government. And the remaining $2.4 billion would be evenly split into defense, advanced education and EI relief to those regions suffering most from the drop in the oil price.
Before I conclude, I will admit there are a topics conspicuously missing from this budget: the environment, global relief and anything regarding UN initiatives. This isn't a mistake.
As I mentioned earlier, I believe in affixing one's own oxygen mask before others, and at this point it's obvious that Canada's ability to help others will continue to be greatly reduced the longer we fail to properly help ourselves.
Bridges need repair, our fastest growing domestic population needs support, and our global reach is hampered by last-generation equipment. But further to this, I'd happily point out that what will successfully combat global hunger, climate change, and the dysfunction at the UN is neither more money or more government intervention.
Non-profits and research teams with grant funding have done infinitely more to help the Third World and increase awareness for global concerns than the best funded ministry initiative ever could. And I'd add to these grants any monies saved from keeping the Harper legacy.
In the end it is highly unlikely that this budget could ever have been produced by any Liberal government with its current leader. And perhaps that's the most unfortunate thing about what happened last October and in the ensuing six months: apparently having a majority allows you to ignore common sense, patriotic fiscal policy, and even one's own campaign promises.
But then again, maybe we the voters should have seen this coming.
After all, it's what we chose.
