Churchill MP Niki Ashton says the only ideas to create jobs in this budget came from the recommendations of the NDP caucus.  She says the Harper government missed their chance to make smart investments that create stable full time jobs, actual child care spaces and affordable housing.  She says the Conservatives continue to refuse to allocate the necessary resources to combat violence against aboriginal women and girls while refusing demands for a national inquiry.

Ashton adds the budget’s infrastructure proposals are limited and create red tape that prevents funds from getting into the hands of communities.  She also says the tax measures do little for the middle class and leave families paying for billions in tax breaks for big corporations and the wealth few, adding the billions in handouts to the wealthiest few are a significant risk to vital public services while doing nothing to reduce child poverty.