Parkdale-High Park MP Gerard Kennedy referred to this year's federal budget as a "really, really meager" document during a special edition of his regular monthly community council meeting to discuss federal issues Thursday, March 24.
"It's a very lean budget when the economy might not be able to withstand it," Kennedy told his constituents who had gathered at Lucy McCormick Senior School on Dundas Street West, just east of Keele Street, "but there are some trinkets."
"Trinkets" such as a $35 a month family benefit and an arts credit for parents paying $500 a year for music lessons, for example. Parents are eligible to receive a $75 credit.
Despite these bright spots, Kennedy said the Conservative government's budget contains "serious cracks."
"Essentially, the cuts outweigh new spending," said the local MP, who had flown in from Ottawa specifically for Thursday's public meeting and was heading back Friday morning.
There are still 339,000 Canadians out of work since before the recession; 134,000 who were working full time and are now working part time. The unemployment rate has risen from 6.1 to 7.8 per cent, Kennedy said. Even though Canada has been fortunate compared to other countries - "it had a pretty good foundation with a $13-billion surplus" to weather the economic downturn, "the basic picture has gotten worse."
"We should be worried about people who are unstable. The recession had victims," said the veteran politician.
There are 160,000 young Canadians between the ages of 18 and 24 who have recently graduated from post-secondary education and cannot find employment, Kennedy said.
"There's nothing for them, no employment or transitional programs," he said. "For young people, we have a responsibility."
When he graduated university, Kennedy said he had his pick of jobs. This is not the case now. Young Canadians get "underweighted" in the decision making process, he said.
While Canada fared far better than the U.S. during the recession, Canadians have more debt per person than Americans, Kennedy said. People's debt is equivalent to one year's salary, he said.
There was no money designated for health care and education, however, Kennedy pointed out the Conservative government's $2 billion cut to corporate taxes. On the other end of the spectrum, the budget contained a small rebate for small business owners.
"You have to have a very small business to get this $85 a month rebate," he said.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government has set aside $60 million for the CBC, which will keep up with inflation.
"The budget is not reliable as a document. It's not a legal document. The numbers don't add up," Kennedy said.
Asked one resident: "Is it a bad budget?"
Kennedy said: "It's a bad budget. It's the wrong budget for these particular times."