Langley Advance
 
A new federal budget with a proposed $34 billion deficit is being greeted as a chance for infrastructure spending by local leaders.

The ruling Conservatives put the budget forward on Tuesday in the House of Commons, and it looked set to pass with minor amendments by the opposition Liberals.

Among the budget’s items are $4.5 billion over two years for infrastructure projects in B.C., part of a $18 billion national fund.

City Mayor Peter Fassbender believes the money will flow quickly once Ottawa turns on the taps.

“I’m extremely optimistic that we will see some of the infrastructure money come to the Langleys,” Fassbender said.

So far there has been no official word on how money will make its way to local projects. In the past, federal money has been administered by the provincial government.

“I don’t care how it comes down as long as we get it,” Fassbender said.

The City’s high-priority local project is to replace the two-lane wooden bridge over the Nicomekl River at Fraser Highway and 208th. A four-lane structure is planned. The old bridge was recently temporarily closed due to flooding after a snowfall and heavy rain event. Fassbender said that shows how badly the bridge needs replacement.

In the Township, the top priority is a water line to Aldergrove and the Gloucester industrial area. That would complement a sewer pipe which will start construction soon.

However, Township Mayor Rick Green was more cautious in his hopes for federal cash being realized.

“I have heard nothing,” Green said. “I’m hoping I’ll hear something by the end of the week.”

Green said he is not sure that all the money will go to “shovel ready” projects. Some of the projects may be a couple years away from starting construction, Green said. Green said he hopes that Surrey Mayor Diane Watts has brought regional issues to the forefront. She has been lobbying for money for projects that would affect much of the south Fraser area.

“We’re talking light rail,” Green said.

The only rail project to so far get an indication that federal money will flow is the Evergreen Line that has been planned for the Coquitlam area for many years.

“We haven’t heard anything more about any further transit spending at this point,” said TransLink spokesperson Judy Rudin.

Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce president Kevin Staples said a bigger national debt is not a good thing.

“As a business organization, we’re never happy with a government in deficit spending,” Staples said.
However, he said these are special circumstances.

“We have to be careful with the size of deficit spending,” Staples said. The government will also have to be watchful to ensure money is going to the right places.

Staples said job retraining money already announced by Langley MP Mark Warawa for the region will be welcomed. At the consumer end of the scale, the budget offers homeowners a chance to upgrade their own infrastructure at a discount.

A tax credit of up to $1,350 will be temporarily issued for renovations costing between $1,000 and $10,000. Shaun Huth, owner of Right Choice Renovations, hasn’t heard from too many of his clients about the tax credit so far.

It might be a nice bonus for some homeowners, but Huth doesn’t think it will push too many people into undertaking renos.

“I can’t say if I was a homeowner that $1,350 would make me do a job,” Huth said. “Because you can’t do anything with $1,350.”

While Huth has so far seen no slowdown in work, the sense of doom and gloom is pervasive he said, and people are talking about it around the lumber yards and supply stores.

- For more federal budget details, find this story at www.langleyadvance.com

Federal budget high points

- $18 billion over two years for infrastructure in partnership with the provinces and cities
- Employment insurance can last as long as 50 weeks, up from 45 weeks
- $1 billion for re-training while on EI
- Income taxes will go down for anyone making less than $81,452. The basic personal exemption will be increased to $10,320 from $9,600.
- A temporary renovation tax credit of $1,325 for any home improvements costing between $1,000 and $10,000
- $1 billion over two years to renovate and retrofit social housing
- $500 million over two years for an agricultural flexibility program
- $170 million over two years for the forest sector
- A new clean energy fund with $1 billion for research and demonstration projects over five years

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