M-P Jay Hill Passes Along Some Details

By 250 News

Thrilled with his government's first budget,  Prince George - Peace River M.P, Jay Hill says the budget will  mean some extra dollars for B.C. and for his constituents:

"Prince George-Peace River residents, like all Canadians, will benefit from dozens of measures announced in this budget.  However, I especially welcome the $400-million over two years to support our Mountain Pine Beetle-ravaged forest industry and the additional $1.5-billion for farm support,    $1-billion more in agriculture funding than we had promised during the election campaign.” 

Here are  some of the dollar figures  for B.C. :

*Rresidents of British Columbia will pay $1.2 billion less in taxes in 2007.  Also, families earning between $15,000 and $30,000 per year will be better off by almost $300 in 2007, and those earning between $45,000 and $60,000 will save almost $650.

* The Universal Child Care Benefit, which provides all families with $1,200 a year for each child younger than six, will put an estimated $297.2 million in the hands of B.C. parents over the next year.

* As part of the implementation of the 10-Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care, British Columbia will receive $53 million more in support of health care – and the reduction of wait times – bringing total federal cash transfer support for health in B.C. to $2.9 billion in 2006-07.

* To improve transit system infrastructure, British Columbia is getting $52.5 million right away. Surplus funds in excess of $2 billion in fiscal year 2005-06 will be used to provide the province with up to $119.3 million through the Public Transit Capital Trust.

* People who use British Columbia’s transit systems will benefit from a new 15.5-per-cent tax credit on the purchase of monthly transit passes.

* Municipalities across Canada will receive an estimated $4.4 billion over the next four years as a share of federal gas tax revenues – money they can invest in roads, clean water and other priorities. In 2006, B.C. will receive $76.3 million for these purposes.

* The government will invest a total of $591 million over the next eight years in Canada’s Pacific Gateway.  Most of it will go towards infrastructure improvements such as bridge and road upgrades, and railway grade crossing projects.

* The Affordable Housing Trust will support investments to increase the supply of affordable housing, including transitional and supportive housing, of up to $106 million in B.C.

* The Off-Reserve Aboriginal Housing Trust will support investments to increase the supply of rental housing and enhance home ownership opportunities for Aboriginal Canadians living off reserve in B.C. of up to $50.9 million.

British Columbia will receive $199.2 million more in Equalization as a result of a one-time adjustment.  This adjustment reflects a new, interim approach for 2006-07 payments.  Budget 2006 confirms that British Columbia will receive a total of $459 million in Equalization in 2006-07.

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