NEWS Mixed reaction to federal budget from local officials, politicians Carlos Osorio/photo Canada's Minister of Finance Bill Morneau tabled federal budget titled Equality and Growth: A Strong Middle Class, on Feb. 27. JU LIE S LA C K jslack@miltoncanadian champion.com Milton's Conservative MP Lisa Raitt says the Tru deau Liberals are making it more difficult for young families trying to save for a down payment on a home. Her reaction comes af ter Finance Minister Bill Morneau tabled the third federal budget in Ottawa on Feb. 27, titled Equality and Growth: A Strong Mid dle Class. The budget, which fore casts a $18.1-billion deficit in the upcoming fiscal year, tackles gender equal ity, with a focus on closing the gender gap in the work place. Raitt, who's the deputy leader of Canada's Conser vatives, said the prime minister is failing to turn a roaring world economy in to results for Ontarians. "Budget 2018 was a huge opportunity for Justin Trudeau. Instead, the prime minister is raising taxes on over 90 per cent of Ontario middle class fami lies, and this budget an nounces new tax hikes on local businesses. And de spite all the spending, mid dle class Ontarians are no further ahead," said Raitt. "Justin Trudeau's econom ic policies fail to make a difference in the lives of Ontarians. He is raising taxes on young Ontarian families, making it more difficult to save for a down payment to buy your first home. After almost three years of Justin Trudeau, the reality is that: Never has a prime minister boasted so loudly, and spent so much, to achieve so little." Raitt added that her party supports new par ents and families. "Andrew Scheer's Con servatives are focused on bringing forward policies that put hardworking peo ple before government, in cluding solutions that sup port new parents and young families." However, Oakville MP John Oliver said he's pleased with measures an nounced in the budget. "One of the most signif icant announcements in Budget 2018 is the creation of the Advisory Council on the Implementation of Na tional Pharmacare," he said. "Currently, one in four Canadians cannot af ford to fill or finish their prescriptions. It's time for our government to show leadership on ensuring that every Canadian has equal access to live-saving prescriptions." The budget, he noted, will see the government make a historic investment of nearly $4 billion to sup port the next generation of Canadian researchers cre ating advancements like new technology to diag nose disease earlier or new medicines to treat patients. On the environmental front, Oliver said, "Oak ville takes pride in our green spaces and natural environment. To protect our waters and biodiversi ty, our government is in vesting $1.3 billion for na ture conservation, and roughly $1 billion to estab lish better rules for the re view of major projects that will protect our environ ment, fish and waterways. "This is one of the most significant investments in nature conservation in Ca nadian history." Budget 2018 is promot ing gender equality in Can ada, and taking action to make sure that the benefits of a growing economy are felt by all Canadians. A new El Parental Sharing Benefit gives parents addi tional weeks of El parental benefits when both par ents share parental leave. We are expanding Cana da's Strategy to Address Gender-Based Violence, providing funding to pro- • See GOVERNMENT, page 22 " U M 'mlM Let Your Natural Beauty I Shine Through At Any A ge NON-SURGICAL OFFERS Lase r Skin R ejuvenation Acne Treatment Laser Hair Removal Photofacial Skin Resurfacing In jectab les: * Botox * Fillers/Juvederm Skin H ealth M an age m e n t: Facial Peels * Latisse Comprehensive Skin Care Analysis Sclerotheropy ZO Skin Health Medical Grade Facials N o n -S u rg ica l B o d y C o n to u rin g * Vanquish * Exilis SChe- GRACE CLINIC PLASTIC, R E C O N S TR U C TIV E & LASER SURGERY D r D o u g la s G r a c e B.SC. M.D. F.R.C.S.C • Plastic, Reconstructive, & Laser Surgeon 905 336-9636 | 200-481 JOHN ST., BURLINGTON 905 338-5777 | 136 ALLAN ST., OAKVILLE D i s a b l e d B e n e f i t s ?D e n i e d I n j u r e d ? I C A N H E L P . M y team o f e x p e r ie n c e d law yers ca n h e lp y o u with: - D isability Claims* *Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, CPP - C ar A cc id en ts - Slip a n d Falls - W ro n g fu l D ism issal YOU DON'T PAY UNLESS I G E T Y O U M O N E Y . I S a m S p a d a f o r a 1 * 1 HAPPY 150™ * - INJURY AND EMPLOYMENT LAW - CANADA O F F IC E S in O A K V IL LE a n d T O R O N T O For a free consultation call: Oakville: 905.842.2022 Toronto: 41 6.644.3999 email: sspadafora@slspc.caWWW.GRACECLINIC.CA co | O akville B eaver | Thursday, M arch 8, 2018 insidehalton.com mailto:sspadafora@slspc.ca http://WWW.GRACECLINIC.CA Denied Injured? YOU DON'T PAY UNLESS