DiscoverMooseJaw.com (Jan 30, 2009)

Moose Jaw's business community is weighing in on the federal budget.  Given the current state of the Canadian economy, the Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce believes the budget "makes the grade" giving it a C +, possibly even a B.

Chamber Executive Director Brian Martynook says normally businesses would be upset with a deficit budget but that's not necessarily the case this time around.  With the way the Canadian economy is heading something had to be done.  Of course we still have to be mindful there is a price to be paid.  We have to get back to a surplus is approximately four to five years and we need to look at that as the end goal".

Martynook says he especially likes the increase in EI benefits.  "If someone is out of a job that had been in a stable job for awhile it's going to take awhile for that person to get retrained and to find another job so that extra five weeks is going to help them in the long run".  Based on the new budget the total number of weeks for EI benefits would be increased by an additional five weeks and premiums would be frozen for two years.

Martynook says the new Home Renovation Tax Credit should help in the short term.  "It's just for a year, so it's really geared to really stimulate the economy.   And, the infrastructure spending is really going to help in getting more jobs out there and more taxes being paid".