So far, the early media commentary has been giving Jim Flaherty’s 2012 budget a pretty easy ride. After all, Canadians can mostly agree on the idea that a government should (try to) balance its books.

But let’s hope the conversation soon advances to the real issue: not whether to balance or not… but how. Prisons… or pensioners? Untendered fighter jets… or jobs? Opportunities for corporations… or opportunities for our youth? A budget is a kind of shorthand that tells us what is important. It’s a reflection of our values.

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A number of important issues that are of concern to many residents of Bruce and Grey counties have hit the media over the past couple of weeks. Changes to income tax refunds in Ontario, Bill C‐30 and race‐based hiring. I would like to take the opportunity to clarify these issues.

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They are the galley slaves of Parliament Hill.

They labour every waking hour, seven days a week.

They are paid a pittance.

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