| March 9, 2010 MLA APPLAUDS INCREASES TO HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION IN BUDGET 2010 VICTORIA- Maple Ridge-Mission MLA Marc Dalton made the following response to Budget 2010 in the Legislature yesterday, highlighting increases to healthcare, education and local infrastructure made by the BC Liberal Government. “I am pleased to stand today in support of the budget. I believe that it's prudent, responsible and visionary. I want to take the opportunity, first of all, to thank the residents of Maple Ridge and Mission for the privilege of being able to serve them as their MLA. “The B.C. and world economies have gone through quite a wild ride in the past one-and-a-half years. Two years ago the world economy and the economy of British Columbia were humming along very nicely. B.C. was in a good position. Economists and nations were shocked at the global economic meltdown that happened. “The Olympic Games and Paralympic Games are proving to be a great economic success as well as a cultural success and a sporting success. This government has pushed through with the Olympics and has promoted it for years in spite of significant opposition. I think it is clear to the vast majority of people that the benefits far outweigh the efforts and costs. The Olympics and Paralympic Games are a success that all British Columbians and all Canadians can be rightly proud of. “I'd like to address a few areas of major expenditures cited in the budget. First of all, healthcare. There is a $661 million increase for 2010-2011. Next year it's moving up to $920 million and the year after, an extra $447 million. This equals $2 billion more each year over three years. “As for Maple Ridge, we have seen the tripling of our emergency in size, a new psychiatric ward. Across the river in Abbotsford there's a new regional hospital. “In education, it’s the same story. This government has increased education funding every single year, and this budget is no exception. The per-pupil funding is increasing from $8,200 to $8,300. The operating funding is $4.660 billion. It's going up by $112 million this year. The facilities grant is being restored at $110 million. I know my school district will be happy about that, but they did have enough funds in reserve to cover this year. “All-day kindergarten is being fully funded as are the wages for teachers in the new contract — $150 million. As was announced today, PAC funding for schools is increasing, is being restored from $10 to $20 per pupil. “Today the report came out on jobs — that we're looking at approximately 113,000 jobs with the implementation of the HST. There will be rebates for low- and modest-income earners, and for many of them, they will be financially better off. “We cut the small business tax rate from 4.5 to 2.5, a 44 percent reduction, and by 2012 it will be reduced to zero. What does it mean? It means a savings of $1,600 for a small business owner who has a yearly net income of $80,000 — so a big savings there, big savings on income taxes. “Infrastructure: There's $21 billion that will be spent over the next three years. I'd like to just mention a few infrastructure projects in my riding or my area. The first one is Golden Ears Bridge. It was built eight or nine months ago for $800 million, and I know that the people I talk to, their quality of life is vastly improved. It's now just about a half-an-hour. In October we opened another bridge, the Pitt River Bridge — seven lanes, $200 million. “Right now the twinning of a section of the Lougheed Highway between Maple Ridge and Mission is just about ready to be completed. We're seeing the downtown revitalization and beautification project that will be happening this year. It's a $5 million project, again shared between the different levels of government. And I'd like to express appreciation to the federal government in my constituency for what they have done in Maple Ridge, Mission and in the province. “In Maple Ridge we have 50-units of transition housing that will be opening ground. The work will begin this year in cooperation with the city of Maple Ridge. In Mission we have Logan Place, which is a 20-bed, year-round emergency shelter for the homeless, which is being built. “So whether it be healthcare, whether it be education, taxation, infrastructure or social services, this is a good budget. It's good for my constituency, and it's good for all of British Columbia.” For a full transcript of Marc’s speech, visit the Hansard website at http://www.leg.bc.ca/hansard/39th2nd/H00308y.htm. -30- | |
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