Mayor O’Brien on the 2010 Federal Budget
The City of Ottawa will see a number of benefits from Budget 2010 as the federal government maintains its core investments in our city while at the same time working to reduce the federal deficit.
I am pleased that the federal government is following through on its commitment to funding year two of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, including $7.7 billion to modernize infrastructure and improve housing across Canada, which Ottawa’s residents will directly benefit from.
Budget 2010’s reduction of the tax burden on businesses will help our local companies both grow and create more creative class jobs - the jobs of the future. In addition, the federal government has taken important steps to exempt Canada from Buy American provisions in the U.S. economic stimulus package. This will give Ottawa businesses equal access to federal, state and local procurement.
Lastly, Budget 2010’s focus on innovation and the knowledge economy is very much in line with the City of Ottawa’s vision for its future. Ottawa has been somewhat cushioned from the ravages of the global economic downturn, in part because of our strong public sector employment base. But we are entering a new economic cycle, one where the knowledge economy will be what creates jobs and prosperity, and where being able to compete globally will be the key to success.