Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod says she was pleased to host the pre-budget consultation meeting in Kamloops on Jan. 20 because it was a great opportunity for federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to hear issues and get input directly from people in her riding.
Twenty-four people were selected to meet with Flaherty in a round-table format, and McLeod says he certainly heard from people who had some clear and unique perspectives.
Among the presenters was Jack Witty of 108 Mile who was seeking support in developing the local industrial hemp project.
Witty says he made a case for some changes in the production of industrial hemp, specifically two critical areas that would help reduce costs for growers.
Instead of having to purchase a licence to grow industrial hemp every year, Witty says he asked Flaherty to allow for a five-year licence.
Noting there is a high cost for new growers when it comes to having their fields inspected and tested to ensure the THC levels are below 0.3 per cent, Witty says he told the minister he thought the government should cover the cost and not charge it to the grower.
Witty says the highest cost he’s heard about was $35 an acre, but adds it’s unfair and quite costly.
“If I were planning to get into the business, that would be an overhead cost I would have to be aware of.”
Noting Flaherty was taking notes, Witty says he doesn’t know if anything with come of it, “especially when it gets back to Ottawa and stuff starts working itself through the bureaucracy.”
However, he adds, McLeod now has the material and she can start knocking on the doors of people who can give us the help we need.
McLeod notes they wanted to talk to a cross section of people who represented different sectors and communities in the riding as well as people who have been affected by the recession. McLeod says Flaherty got to hear from a diverse group during a 2.5-hour closed-door meeting.
Generally, she adds, people recognized the importance of moving towards a balanced budget by 2015.
“I think there was general consensus we have to be heading in that directions as well as focus on jobs and economic growth.
“We can’t afford to keep going with stimulus spending. We need the private sector to take over the creation of economic health of the country.”
Noting the opposition parties are against the idea of lowering corporate taxes, McLeod says the only way businesses will be able to be competitive is to lower the tax rate.
“The only way to bring new business to Canada and encouraging entrepreneurs is having a lower tax rate. It is absolutely critical.
The federal Conservatives have stated they want to cut departmental operating budgets by $6.8 billion over the next five year, and while McLeod says most of that will be met through attrition with the federal payroll shrinking by 11,000 jobs a year, she notes each federal department has been told to look at their programs and try to find a five per cent reduction.
“It’s important to look at all of the programs to see which ones are important and which ones are working and which are not. It’s been an ongoing process.”
McLeod says it’s not too late for people to share their thoughts on the budget by visiting www.fin.gc.ca.
She will also be hosting two coffee chats on Jan. 28. The first is at The Chartreuse Moose from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the second is in the lobby of the 108 Resort from 2 to 4 p.m.