Tony Martin's response to the federal budget

NEWS RELEASE

TONY MARTIN, MP

*********************** Corporate tax cuts won't help working families

Conservative budget fails to earn NDP support says MP Tony Martin

SAULT STE. MARIE – Sault MP Tony Martin says today's Conservative federal budget doesn't do enough for working families to warrant serious consideration for NDP support in Parliament.

"This budget is a lost opportunity for working families," Martin said. "Instead of investing in new child care spaces, more affordable education, a cleaner environment, a better EI program, the Conservatives want to squander the surplus on more corporate tax cuts."

"After years of seeing working families wait for the services they need and have been promised," said NDP Leader Jack Layton, "the Conservatives aren't delivering for working families either. They're no better than the Liberals."

"This budget will make life harder for ordinary people," Martin said. "As a result of this budget, pollution will go up, child care wait lists will get longer, and student debt will get heavier."

Martin welcomed individual budget measures such as the tax credit for parents of children in sports and the $1.5 billion in new money for farmers that the NDP has been demanding.

"I will also be fighting for the money announced today for border and municipal infrastructure," he said. "That is important for our communities."

"Now is not the time to cut, now is the time to invest," said Martin. "Jack Layton was clear that we needed to see working families' priorities addressed in this budget. On election night, the prime minister spoke of working with the opposition and reiterated that in the throne speech. We aren't seeing that here and we're very disappointed."

********************* Harper gives tax breaks for bus passes, kids' sports