OK, the budget has come down, and the talking heads on TV have had their say. But, what does it mean to your bottom line? Who is affected by this budget? Here are some things that you may have missed.

First, everyone who has a job gets a new $1,000/year tax deduction. This has the effect of raising the basic exemption for employees. No receipts are necessary; it will be assumed that everyone has expenses related to their job. Expenses related to clothing, transportation, and work place supplies are normal for everyone. Therefore, as legitimate expenses they deserve a tax deduction.

Second, the RCMP will be receiving more funding. Roughly, 1,000 new positions will be created, and monies are being provided to upgrade equipment. So, if you have a family member who is thinking about becoming a Mountie, tell them to get their application in, because a lot more recruits are going to be going through Regina over the next few years. (Drug dealers, car thieves, and other various miscreants will not be thrilled by this news.)

Third, the government will be doing a major review of spending looking for waste. The goal is to save $1 Billion. This may sound like a lot of money, but when you realize that the government spends over $200 billion/year, this is really just a first step.

All of these measures, along with the more publicized announcements, ($1.5 Billion for agriculture, the Child Care allowance) make up a pretty decent budget for the country. While this budget is far from perfect, (there is nothing perfect from the government) it is a positive step forward. One that will make it easier for Canadians to make a living. If that is its only accomplishment, then the budget has done its job.

I’m Brad Trost your Member of Parliament for Saskatoon-Humboldt. I welcome your feedback.