London reps react to federal budget
The federal budget has drawn different
reactions from various levels
of government representatives in
London — in particular with its
effects on post-secondary students
and rapid transit.
“I’m incredibly proud of this budget,” said Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal Member of Parliament for London North Centre.
Fragiskatos, a rookie MP and a former faculty member at King’s University College, said he met numerous students during his teaching days who were worried about debt issues.
During the budget consultation period in February, he also met with various stakeholders in London, including the University Students’ Council, who cited similar concerns about student loan repayments and youth unemployment.
The Liberal government’s amendments to the Canada Student Loans Program revealed in the 2016 budget now allow post-secondary students to start paying back their loans once they have an annual income of $25,000 as opposed to the previous limit of $20,000.
“I think this is a policy response to what students have calling for a long time,” Fragiskatos said.
Fragiskatos is also pleased with his government’s investments towards infrastructure growth in the country. The Liberals have allotted $11.9 billion towards new infrastructure investments over the next five years as part of their “Phase I of Canada’s New Infrastructure Plan.”
“When we invest in infrastructure, and there are various forms of infrastructure that we will be directing money towards — you’re actually helping build the country up,” he said.
Phil Squire, ward 6 city councillor, disagreed with Fragiskatos’ assessment of infrastructure spending and is worried about the big deficit that the federal government is intending to run.
“I worry given the experiences in the province of Ontario that running huge deficits leads to real restraint on the ability of the government to do the things they want to do, whether it is investing in infrastructure or investing in education,” he said.
The London city council is currently developing a business plan for introducing rapid transit to deal with the city’s increasing transit woes.
Proposed plans, which include options such as a new rapid bus system to a light rail system, cost anywhere between $340 million to over a $1 billion, according to Squire.
The city has pledged $125 million to the project but provincial and federal assistance is vital for rapid transit development in London. Squire does not think the federal funding will be adequate enough to help fully fund the projects.
“There is some concern because of the amount of money that was allocated … the kind of investment we need will not be forthcoming,” he said.
“The amount of money the federal government is spending is spread out in so many different areas.”
However, with the new investments in education, infrastructure and other programs such as the Canada Child Benefit, Fragiskatos believes the budget will actually help Canada move forward.
“We have an economy that is experiencing difficulty right now, we inherited a challenging economic situation but we’re putting forward a bold and ambitious plan that will benefit this country,” he said.
“I’m incredibly proud of this budget,” said Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal Member of Parliament for London North Centre.
Fragiskatos, a rookie MP and a former faculty member at King’s University College, said he met numerous students during his teaching days who were worried about debt issues.
During the budget consultation period in February, he also met with various stakeholders in London, including the University Students’ Council, who cited similar concerns about student loan repayments and youth unemployment.
The Liberal government’s amendments to the Canada Student Loans Program revealed in the 2016 budget now allow post-secondary students to start paying back their loans once they have an annual income of $25,000 as opposed to the previous limit of $20,000.
“I think this is a policy response to what students have calling for a long time,” Fragiskatos said.
Fragiskatos is also pleased with his government’s investments towards infrastructure growth in the country. The Liberals have allotted $11.9 billion towards new infrastructure investments over the next five years as part of their “Phase I of Canada’s New Infrastructure Plan.”
“When we invest in infrastructure, and there are various forms of infrastructure that we will be directing money towards — you’re actually helping build the country up,” he said.
Phil Squire, ward 6 city councillor, disagreed with Fragiskatos’ assessment of infrastructure spending and is worried about the big deficit that the federal government is intending to run.
“I worry given the experiences in the province of Ontario that running huge deficits leads to real restraint on the ability of the government to do the things they want to do, whether it is investing in infrastructure or investing in education,” he said.
The London city council is currently developing a business plan for introducing rapid transit to deal with the city’s increasing transit woes.
Proposed plans, which include options such as a new rapid bus system to a light rail system, cost anywhere between $340 million to over a $1 billion, according to Squire.
The city has pledged $125 million to the project but provincial and federal assistance is vital for rapid transit development in London. Squire does not think the federal funding will be adequate enough to help fully fund the projects.
“There is some concern because of the amount of money that was allocated … the kind of investment we need will not be forthcoming,” he said.
“The amount of money the federal government is spending is spread out in so many different areas.”
However, with the new investments in education, infrastructure and other programs such as the Canada Child Benefit, Fragiskatos believes the budget will actually help Canada move forward.
“We have an economy that is experiencing difficulty right now, we inherited a challenging economic situation but we’re putting forward a bold and ambitious plan that will benefit this country,” he said.
