Image Credit: House of Commons

By Michael Reeve / Q-101 Merritt

Federal Budget

Federal budget missed opportunity to support fight against COVID-19: MP Albas

Apr 21, 2021 | 2:00 PM

MERRITT, B.C. — On Monday (April 19), the Federal Liberals tabled their first budget in two years. The budget includes over $100 billion in new spending over three years to help the recovery from the pandemic and work towards a transition to a green economy.

The budget also includes a promised $30 billion over five years to create a national child care program.

Central Okanagan Similkameen Nicola MP Dan Albas was disappointed that more wasn’t done to help with vaccinations and the fight against COVID-19.

“There is no new funding announced in terms of our vaccine or in supporting the provinces which have held up most of the costs in terms of health care and fighting the pandemic,” said Albas. “That was a bit disappointing because that where we can really begin to talk about all these other measures which are important.”

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“The budget is totally silent on health care transfer, which all Premiers have been united on asking the Government for more,” added Albas.

MP Albas serves as the Tories Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change and had questions about the new funding announced in his portfolio.

“There is the accelerator, one of the things that I have in my mind is that it’s an awful lot of money. If they are just simply giving money to companies that are already planning on making these changes because they plan to do it, then that’s money we don’t need to give,” stated Albas.

“Where there is private sector financing for good projects, we should allow that to happen and not crowd it out with our tax dollars,” added Albas.

Albas also had a question about the new retrofit program and how it works with the previously announced program.

It wasn’t all negatives from Albas as he did note the historic nature of this being the first budget ever tabled by a female finance minister.

“I congratulate her, it’s not an easy job at the best of times,” said Albas.

Albas was also happy to hear a minor mention of money for the universal broadband fund.

“Logan Lake, I’m trying all I can to get high-speed internet out to there,” stated Albas.

The Federal deficit will be $354.2 billion this year and no date was announced for when the Government plans to return to balanced books.