Sopuck praises budget

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Published on Friday, February 14, 2014

By: Kate Jackman-Atkinson

myWestman.ca

Last week, the federal government released the 2014 budget. Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette MP Robert Sopuck says that the budget includes many items that should make rural Canadians happy. 

He was especially happy with the announcement of funding to improve broadband access in rural and remote communities. He noted that the improved access will spur economic growth as farmers and businesses take advantage of the improvement. 

The $305 million in funding will aim to bring broadband access to an additional 280,000 Canadians.

An insurance program for livestock producers is another measure in budget 2014 that will help area residents. Sopuck says the pilot price insurance program will provide cattle and hog producers in Western Canada with insurance against unexpected price declines within a production cycle. He says that this program will be a good thing for producers.

The government is also expanding the tax deferral for livestock to include bees and all horses over 12 months that are kept for breeding when sold due to drought or excess moisture.

Of interest to area residents is the $390 million budgeted for infrastructure spending in national parks.  This funding will be used to make improvements to highways, bridges, and dams located in national parks across Canada. Sopuck said he is already working to see some of that funding go towards improvements to Highway 10 through Riding Mountain National Park. 

Other items in budget 2014 Sopuck pointed to include reducing red tape in the craft brewing industry, $15 million to extend the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program to additional conservation projects and $5 million for New Horizons for Seniors.

Sopuck noted that all Canadians, both rural and urban, should be happy with a reduced deficit and the return to budget surplus in 2015. 

“It’s good for the whole country,” he said. 

Returning to a balanced budget, or surplus, will give the government the ability to increase spending should the economy need it.

“All in all, I believe it’s a terrific budget,” he said. “Nothing is perfect…[but] this budget absolutely struck the right balance,” he added.

Photo of Robert Sopuck

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