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Ajax ext. 240 or dfi [email protected] A/P PAGE 2 THE NEWS ADVERTISER, January 28, 2009 durhamregion.com Durham post-secondary Flaherty wants Canadians building schools happy with budget Regional chairman says College and university Durham is ready to spend presidents agree infrastructure money it contains good news By Crystal Crimi By Reka Szekely [email protected] [email protected] DURHAM — It was a good news day for DURHAM — Durham welcomed the bil- Durham’s college and university presidents, lions of infrastructure dollars slated to flow both present at Tuesday’s federal budget an- to the municipalities as part of the Federal nouncement. government’s 2009 budget. Money announced for post-secondary in- Responding to tough economic times, the vestments should help both institutions, said budget includes a $35-billion stimulus pack- Durham College president Don Lovisa, and age with tax breaks, cash support and incen- University of Ontario Institute of Technology tives for taxpayers and various industries. president, Ronald Bordessa. “From Corner Brook to Kamloops, from “I think the main thing from the college Iqaluit to Kitchener, Canadians agree: We perspective, I heard what I wanted to hear in must do what it takes to keep our econo- the budget,” Mr. Lovisa said, over the buzz at my moving and protect Canadians in this a reception for parliament and guests follow- extraordinary time,” Finance Minister and ing the budget presentation. Whitby MP Jim Flaherty said as he delivered “The budget is a good budget for the uni- the budget in Parliament Tuesday afternoon. versity, the city (Oshawa), and the region as “Making new investments is more challeng- well,” Dr. Bordessa said. ing in such a time, but it is also more neces- The budget featured $2 billion for repairs sary than ever.” to post-secondary institutions. It also men- The economic stimulus will mean a $34- tioned investments in skilled trades training, billion deficit in the next fiscal year and the Mr. Lovisa said, and money for university in- federal government will not be out of the red Jason Liebregts/ News Advertiser photo frastructure and sustainable energy projects, until 2013 when a $700-million surplus is Among the interested budget spectators were these members of the Canadian Auto Workers which UOIT participates in, Dr. Bordessa Local 222 union who watched the budget at the union headquarters in Oshawa. forecast. Included in the investment is $12 said. billion for infrastructure, which Mr. Flaherty Money was also earmarked for “commu- called one of the largest building projects in newsdurhamregion.com between $60,000 and $80,000. As well, the nities most in distress” which Oshawa falls Canadian history. There’s more budget news online government is allocating $540 million over into, Dr. Bordessa said. Together, the City “We will start construction of roads, bridg- at newsdurhamregion.com this year and next to increase benefits for and university can continue to work on proj- es, public transit, broadband Internet access, low-income families eligible for the National ects such as building more university space schools and social housing in every region of construction industry, which includes re- Child Benefit supplement and the Canada downtown to help with revitalization there, the country,” he said in his budget speech. pairs to social housing and private home Child Tax benefit. he said. Regional Chairman Roger Anderson wel- renovation. A temporary 15 per cent income Now a ‘have-not’ province hit hard by the Although the maintenance money won’t comed the money and said Durham has tax credit for renovations on homes and cot- manufacturing downturn, Ontario will get help UOIT because the school is new, some projects ready to go to capitalize on it such tages applies to spending over $1,000 to a $1 billion over five years for a new southern funds are being directed to new construc- as improvements to the Duffins Creek Water maximum of $10,000. Ontario development agency, meant to sup- tion, which Dr. Bordessa is hopeful about, he Pollution Control Plant and other plants. Eligible purchases include a new furnace, port economic and community develop- said. “From what I’m reading and hearing it’s windows, carpet and flooring and resurfac- ment. That’s something the Regional chair- literally double what the gas tax currently is. ing a driveway. However, the credit does not man is looking forward to. That in itself is a good thing and will create a apply to furniture or appliances. “I think that holds a lot of opportunity for Board of trade happy lot of jobs and a lot of infrastructure invest- Mr. Anderson expects those announce- the GTA and specifically Durham.” ment in Ontario.” ments will help local businesses, especially As for the overall outlook, Mr. Flaherty with budget steps Mr. Anderson said he would have pre- small ones. said the economy will contract at a rate of 0.8 ferred if the money had flowed as the gas tax “That’s a huge industry in Durham and per cent in 2009, compared to the govern- does instead of the one-third basis where they’re very quiet right at the moment.” ment’s forecast of 0.3 per cent growth only AJAX — The Ajax-Pickering Board of the municipality, the Province and the feds The budget also introduces income tax two months ago. Unemployment is expected Trade says business owners should like the all kick in a third of the cost. However, he’s cuts that will save the average taxpayer sev- rise to 7.5 per cent in 2009 and 7.7 per cent initiatives included in the federal budget ultimately happy to get the cash. eral hundred dollars a year - $247 in savings in 2010. The budget did not address regional but, is still awaiting evidence of the projects The Regional chairman is also grateful for a family making between $30,000 and unemployment differences, but extended that will have a direct impact on Ajax and for the $7.8 billion in stimulus for the home $45,000; $473 in savings for a family earning payments by five weeks. Pickering. “There’s no denying that the current state of the economy required a massive stimulus package,” says John G. Smith, president of the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade. “This Parish, Ryan like infrastructure spending budget does not meet every need identified by our members, but it has taken some im- portant steps.” Now they have They seem to have hit all the bases everyone Mayor Parish said. Specifically, the Board welcomed im- to wait for details was anticipating,” Ajax Mayor Steve Parish “I’m very pleased to see social housing is proved access to sources of business credit, said. in the budget. We in Durham Region have extended tax writeoffs on new machinery He and other municipal leaders will be old social housing that needs to be repaired and equipment, and economic develop- By Keith Gilligan waiting for the details on the infrastructure and modernized,” he said, adding the Re- ment initiatives that specifically target the and Kristen Calis program. There’s $4 billion in a shared in- gion has $10 million in a reserve for social hard hit manufacturing sector in southern [email protected] frastructure program with the provinces and housing. Ontario. municipalities. Combining federal money with the re- “Infrastructure related spending is also DURHAM — Including infrastructure “I’m not sure if it’s a straight allocation to serve money will give the Region a chance an important cornerstone of this economic spending in the budget is a winner with the municipalities or an application program. to upgrade social housing, he said. stimulus package,” Mr. Smith said. “These mayors of Ajax and Pickering. Historically, shared programs are applica- He’s also pleased to see aid for first-time are the investments that promise to improve “We’re pleased that infrastructure will be tion based and we in the municipal sector homebuyers and a tax credit for those want- the movement of goods and services for a priority in this budget,” Pickering Mayor have difficulty with that. It doesn’t jive with ing to do home renovations. years to come. But, the true value of this Dave Ryan said after the budget was first our priorities and it takes too long,” Mayor The construction industry has been hard spending will be determined once the shov- dropped.