Ottawa – Last week our government was successful in passing Bill C-51, the Economic Recovery Act. Measures included in the Economic Recovery Act include the Home Renovation Tax Credit that’s helping not just homeowners, but everyone from lumber producers to construction workers, as well as hardware and home building supply stores.  It is estimated that an over whelming majority of Canadians are utilizing the HRTC to make home improvements, making their homes more energy-efficient and increasing their market value.

C 51 also includes the First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit to assist first-time homebuyers with the costs associated with buying a home and the Enhanced Working Income Tax Benefit to help ensure low-income workers are better off financially by remaining or becoming employed.  Farmers across the country coping with drought, flooding and extreme weather conditions will benefit from the Extended Tax Deferral Program and Canadian businesses will find it easier to import and export goods  through Tariff Relief which will improve the rules on temporary cargo containers.

At a time when the Canada is showing positive signs of emerging from a global recession, measures like the Economic Recovery Act are working and Canada is leading the world in emerging from the global economic recession. Unfortunately, Michael Ignatieff and the Liberal Party once again, stood alone in voting against the Economic Recovery Act .

All of these measures are good for Canada and now is the time for all political parties to come together in the interests of building our communities and and our economy.