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Thursday, A pril 23, 2015 - The IFP - H alton H ills - w w w .theifp.ca Page 7 Furnace Air Conditioning Gaslines Boilers Water Heaters Radiant Heating 905-877-3100 proud local dealer of Canadian made products .ca Time to Move? Call Derek CallDerek.ca 905-877-8262 Derek Dunphy Sales Representative • Truck Accessories • Upholstery • Heavy Equipment Glass •Window Tinting 354 Guelph Street, Georgetown 905-873-1655 We handle all insurance work. COMMENT The way we were Television became an educational tool at Park Public School in Georgetown in 1966. Text courtesy of John Mark Benbow Rowe, Georgetown: Reflections of a Small Town Photo courtesy of Esquesing Historical Society TV-- the new educational tool Ross Pezzack shot this photo of the first flowers (Hepatica) of spring found on the Bruce Trail near Speyside. Got a photo you want to share? Email cgamble@theifp.ca SPRING HAS SPRUNG From our readers Feds' fiscal house is in order The federal budget is balanced. This is a significant achievement. Canada is the first G7 country to balance its books, has the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7 and has the best job creation record. Notably, this has been accom- plished while significantly reducing federal income taxes. Since 2006, the federal govern- ment has cut taxes for Canadian families over 160 times. As a result, federal taxation is at its lowest level in 50 years. A typical Ca- nadian family of four is now paying $3,400 less every year in federal taxes compared to 2006. These tax reductions have taken place despite the global recession of 2009 and despite a chal- lenging fiscal environ- ment. Through good fiscal management, the fed- eral government has reduced the GST from seven to five per cent, created the Tax Free Savings Account, reduced the low- est personal income tax rate and in- creased the basic personal exemp- tion. The federal budget also confirms the federal government's plan to help families by implementing the Family Tax Cut and increasing the Universal Child Care Benefit. The new Family Tax Cut allows income-splitting to reduce federal taxes payable for couples with chil- dren under 18. Couples can now split income between the higher earn- ing and the lower earning spouse, saving up to $2,000 a year in federal taxes. The average benefit for Cana- dian families will be over $1,100 per year, in direct money. The benefit is capped at $2,000 to ensure middle- income families disproportionately benefit. Take advantage of this bene- fit when you file your 2014 tax return. In addition, the new Family Tax Cut includes an increase to the Child Care Expenses Deduction of $1,000 per child, for those families where both parents are working and utilize child care. This increased deduction begins in the 2015 taxation year. The government is also increas- ing the Universal Child Care Ben- efit retroactive to Jan. 1. Parents will now re- ceive $160 per month per child under the age of six, or $1,920 per year, and a new benefit of $100 per month per child aged six through seventeen, or $720 per year. Those who cur- rently do not receive the Universal Childcare Benefit must apply. To apply, please visit: http://goo.gl/IagDdL The combination of the Family Tax Cut and the Universal Childcare Benefit will help approximately four mil- lion Canadian families with children through direct financial support, 34,820 families in Wellington County and 14,580 families in Halton Hills alone. Low- and middle-income families will receive about two-thirds of the overall benefits provided by these measures. These new and enhanced ben- efits-- the Family Tax Cut and the Universal Child Care Benefit-- are a direct result of the balanced federal budget. For additional information, please contact me at (866) 878-5556. -- Michael Chong is the MP for Wellington-Halton Hills MICHAEL CHONG