The proposed federal budget will help stimulate the private sector in Jasper, according to local MP Rob Merrifield, however opposition parties are accusing the conservatives of ignoring the environment and seniors.

MP Rob Merrifield said the budget will benefit Jasper by stimulating growth.

“This budget allows the private sector to succeed. The riding has agriculture, oil, gas, coal and tourism. This budget will give those sectors the potential to grow in ways they haven’t been able to grow in the past,” Merrifield said.

Merrifield also said access to foreign markets will help propel the country out of recession.

“If we do it right and move onto free trade deals, we’ll accelerate those foreign markets,” Merrifield said. He also highlighted the fact Canada will have the lowest tax rate amongst G8 countries.

While the budget still sees an increase in spending, Merrifield categorizes it as a fair budget.

“This is more of a hold the line budget. It creates jobs and stimulates the economy while not putting our children in debt,” Merrifield said. “We needed to stimulate the economy.”

While there were no funding boosts, helping Canada become a preferred destination for Chinese tourists will stimulate the tourism sector, Merrifield said. Canada has achieved premier destination status with China.

“That status is better than stimulus spending, some tourism operators are telling me in the riding,” Merrifield said.

Merrifield said Jasper National Park received more funding in 2009, and more announcements are expected in 2010. Merrifield said he’ll be in Jasper shortly after Easter to make another funding announcement for the town, as the government continues to roll out it’s stimulus program.

“Jasper saw a considerable amount of money and there will be some more coming,” Merrifield said. “We’ll see some of the money from parks come to fruition... the second year is job creation in the parks and across the riding.”

The federal government is also expected to be involved in the continuing saga of the Jasper totem pole.

More money for Via Rail will also help Jasper, Merrifield said. Funds will be spent to refurbish Via Rail cars, which could help attract more visitors to the town.

Merrifield, who also looks after rail transportation, will also be looking in to help for CN Rail. A recent customer service survey of Canada’s commercial rail companies found only a 19 per cent satisfaction rate with CN Rail.

He hopes the private sector will propel Canada to prosperity.

“We really give potential for growth in the private sector – particularly on the tourism front... We can’t cut too deep and whip us into a downturn again. Recovery is there, but it’s not too solid,” Merrifield said.

Local Green Party candidate Monica Schaefer was unimpressed with the budget, which placed the economy ahead of the environment. The budget cuts funding to the Canadian foundation for climate and atmosphere science, and removes $43 million from the Ministry of Natural Resources for environmental protection.

“Frankly, this government is going backwards in terms of the environment. Climate change is off the radar for this government. That concerns me because it’s the defining issue of our time,” Schaefer said.

She said she’s not convinced Prime Minister Stephen Harper takes the environment seriously.

“The environment is absent and it underpins everything in our lives. Climate change is upon us. It’s up to us to address it. Ignoring the ramifications for our kids and our grandkids turns my stomach.”

Local NDP candidate Ken Kuzminski said more money to banks is not what the country needs.

“Stop the tax cuts to banks, which are having record profits during this time of massive deficit. If tax cuts are needed then they should be given to small businesses. Small businesses employ over three quarters of Canadian workers. They are more likely to be reinvesting in their business and hire more employees... But instead they chose to increase payroll taxes that individuals and their employers pay,” Kuzminski said.

He also said money should be included for children and seniors.

“There’s no money for seniors. The number of seniors that live in poverty has doubled recently. The conservative idea of trickle down economics does not work for pensioners and others on fixed incomes,” Kuzminski said.

He also said the Conservatives’ approach on crime in this budget doesn’t work.

“The Conservative budget has 43 per cent more money for building large U.S. style prisons, but nothing for crime prevention and diversion projects. We must look at root causes of crime and set up programs, for example, to deal with drugs and drug addiction.”