By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Lethbridge MP gives Federal budget failing grade

Mar 22, 2017 | 6:34 PM

LETHBRIDGE – On the heels of the Federal Liberal budget that was delivered Wednesday (Mar. 22), Lethbridge MP Rachael Harder took some time to speak with Lethbridge News Now.

She gave it a failing grade, saying the focus is on large city centres across the country, with very little for smaller cities like Lethbridge.

When asked specifically about funding that will help young Canadians attain student loans and advance their education, she said she would have preferred an emphasis on creating jobs for those trying to enter the workforce.

“The way that we make that possible for them is by supporting our job creators, and our job creators are the small businesses and the industries within Canada that are going to move forward with science and technology and innovation,” stated Harder. “They’re going to be the ones who are going to create those jobs that young people are going to school in order to seek after.”

She added that tax incentives for employers to hire young people would have been another strong measure, but one that was not addressed.

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From there, she moved on to talk about the money being set aside to support middle-class Canadian families. Again, she feels it fell short.

“I think any time we see an increase in spending, we also have to keep in mind that that money has to come from somewhere, and the most likely place that that money is going to come from of course is taxation,” she explained. “So, it may be money that is granted up front, but it is money that will exit your wallet through the back-door — and that back-door of course is increased taxes.”