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durhamregion.com Is THE CANADIAN STATESMAN ♦ March 15,2006 ♦ Page 3 's taking responsible to spring budget Walter Passarella / Metroland Durham Region Media Group Federal Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty spoke to business leaders and politicians at a the luncheon at La Gala Banquet Centre last week. 'We can't do everything at once; we simply don't have the resources,' federal finance minister says BY DAVID BLUMENFELD Staff Writer WHITBY -- In his first public speech as federal finance minster, Jim Flaherty said the Conservative government government will be taking a frugal, focused and fiscally responsible responsible approach to decisionmaking. decisionmaking. "Our government believes we must set priorities that are reasonable and affordable, affordable, and stick by them," said Mr. Flaherty, who represents the federal riding of Whitby- Oshawa. "We cannot afford to jeopardize our strong economy economy with reckless spending." Speaking at a luncheon hosted by the Whitby Chamber Chamber of Commerce, in a town he described as a "pillar of support" over the last decade, Mr. Flaherty said he will have to make tough, but necessary, choices as he works to deliver his first federal budget. ■ "I strongly believe that balanced budgets and paying paying off debt are essential to our nation's success. Deficitfinancing Deficitfinancing is not sustainable with your own finances... why should government be any different than we all have to be in our own lives?" he said to an audience of local politicians politicians and members of the business community. "That's why I'll strive to keep a lid on federal spending, which last fiscal year went up by some 15 per cent." Although no date was set for delivery of this year's budget, Mr. Flaherty said the government government will limit future growth on federal grant and contribution contribution programs, and within within federal departments and agencies, to the rate of inflation inflation plus population growth. Taxpayer dollars will only be spent on programs that are "effective and efficient - on programs that work for Canadians," Canadians," he said. "When I was in the provincial provincial Conservative party, we used to say that the problem wasn't that revenues were too low, but that spending was too high. We need to ensure that when we spend taxpayers' taxpayers' dollars, we get results and you get good value." Mr. 'Flaherty also said , the government will move to reduce corporate taxes, and follow up on its promise to eliminate federal capital tax and lower taxes for small business, business, including implementing tax incentives for businesses WATCH VIDEO] AT DURHAMREGION.COM for more on this story to hire new apprentices for industries in need. Canada has a shortage of 20,000 skilled tradespeople, and the government government will offer a credit of 10 per cent of an apprentice's wages for two years, to a maximum of $2,000, he said. With an estimated $23-bil- lion gap between the federal and provincial governments, Mr. Flaherty said he is meeting meeting with the Ontario minister of finance on Friday to begin discussions to correct the issue of fiscal imbalance. Of all the provinces and territories, territories, only Ontario and Prince Edward Island are in a deficit situation, he said. Mr. Flaherty said the government government will also begin by delivering on its election platform: platform: it will pass the Federal Accountability Act; reduce the GST by one per cent; introduce • mandatory sentences sentences for gun-related crimes; provide a $1,200 child-care allowance, and work with the provinces to establish a Patient Wait Times Guarantee for health care. "We can't do everything at once; we simply don't have : the resources," he said. "In January, Canadians gave us a mandate to lead change, and you can't have responsible leadership without making prudent, responsible choices'... choices'... and I can assure you we won't. Our plan is both prudent and affordable." Mr. Flaherty is expected to deliver his budget in late spring. The speech from,the throne will take place Monday, Monday, April 3. FROST3Y JOHN'S bctvfvuifivitfcf 1 \Jc</ r j('\(ict4*\lîccr( PmA ^ St. PoAAmS/ Dm Live Band ATM ioom,., . A., b,. v 905-623-6700 yw Metroland Durham Region Media Group The Comfort Zone by Tina Kroon-Camire Looking for a Hot Tub? Look no further? The Comfort Shoppe is your one stop for Hot Tubs. We sell the Worlds #1 Brand of Hot Tubs Hydropool! Hydropool has been manufacturing high quality hot tubs in Mississauga, Ont. for over 25 years. Hydropool is the only manufacturer to produce a self cleaning hot tub. Hydropool can customize your hot tub to meet all your needs. Hydropool has a hot tub for every budget. We offer 12 months no payments no interest. So don't delay, come in today and see our newly renovated showroom and display of lifit tnhv HYDROPOOL HOT TUB» • SWIM SPAS The Self Cleaning Hot Tub! Check out this BBQ DEAL!! Broil King MPIV BlBD Great Barbecues Every Time www.brollldngbbq.com in Broil King Imperial 70 Reg. Retail -$999 NG Now Only - $659 FREE COVER (ttmnfnri JBIpjppe 160 Baseline Rd. E. Bowmanville ] (905) 623-2956 Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8 - 6, Sat. 10-4 l Closed Sundays | website:www.comfortshoppe.com ' Email: tina@comfortshoppe.com m Innarotion nrw Hi to good. ' and E 0 0 fj P| IM i (0 £ 3 VO vfMli - , ;îW|s ■ e-,{ ■"Sases*" r - after head-on CLARINGTON - An Oshawa man is facing charges charges after a wrong-way driving incident on Hwy. 115 ended with a head-on collision Friday Friday night. Peterborough OPP said the incident began when a GMC van entered the southbound lanes of Hwy. 115 at Hwy. 2 near Newcastle around 10:30 p.m: and began driving driving northbound. The vehicle sideswiped a southbound car shortly after getting on the highway and continued on, police said. A Durham police cruiser and the Air 1 helicopter were dispatched. The helicopter caught up with the suspect vehicle near the exit for Porter Porter Road in the city of Kawar- tha Lakes, several kilometres from where the driver first began the wrong-way journey. journey. The van finally slammed head-on into a southbound car near the Tapley Quarter Line exit, police said. Two people in the car were hospitalized overnight for non life-threatening injuries. The driver of the van, which wound up in the ditch, was arrested. Donald Wilson, 42, of Ivy Court in Oshawa is charged with dangerous driving and failing to remain at the scene of a collision. Child's allegations lead to sex charges BOWMANVILLE - A Bowmanville senior is facing several charges after a child made allegations of sexual assaults, police said. Durham Regional Police laid charges March 8 after an investigation began in February, February, Police were contacted by the guardian of a 7-year-old girl, who reported she had been inappropriately touched on three occasions, police said. Investigators believe the assaults took place in residences residences in Bowmanville and Newcastle between October 2005 and February 2006, when the accused made visits to the home. 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