MP Georgina Jolibois applauds budget, but cites issues

The federal budget was released on March 22 and while the MP for northern Saskatchewan is impressed with it, she feels there are still questions left unanswered.

Georgina Jolibois, New Democrat MP for Desnethe – Missinippi – Churchill River said the infrastructure spending plan favors urban centers more than rural, remote communities.

“When the budget speaks to the infrastructure plan, it isn’t clear as to what the plan is. (For the north) she said. “They (the Liberals) are talking about transit systems like busses and trains, those are for urban centers. In the northern Saskatchewan constituency we don’t have those concerns so there are more questions to answers as to what is the infrastructure plan, and how will our constituency benefit from this plan that the Liberal government has laid out.”

Jolibois said a couple of the major concerns are that there is no mention about long-term care facilities for seniors and, although she applauded the amount given to First Nations communities, she said it still isn’t enough.

According to Jolibois, the Liberal government is short a $1 billion, towards First Nations funding, particularly for education.

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Boarding schools for Metis in Ile A La Crosse, Timber Bay and the La Ronge area were promised during the campaign as compensation, but Jolibois said there is no mention of the schools in the budget.

Despite the funding questions for infrastructure, First Nations and long-term care facilities, Jolibois said she is otherwise impressed with the budget and added the affordable housing and homelessness initiative will be a much needed boost for northern Saskatchewan. 

“Communities such as Meadow Lake, La Loche and other First Nations reserves and municipalities have some funding put aside for affordable housing and homelessness initiatives so that is a plus and a bonus for northern Saskatchewan,” she said.

Some other areas Jolibois is excited for are the changes to employment insurance benefits. She said she is thrilled the wait-time before receiving benefits has been decreased from two weeks down to one, with the additional five weeks of coverage.

Specifically for First Nations reserves, there is mention of funding put aside for youth recreation projects or facilities.

Jolibois said the budget is very comprehensive and she will continue to look at how northern Saskatchewan can benefit from it.

cswiderski@jpbg.ca

On twitter: @coltonswiderski