There is not a hint of reform in the air. The budget was clearly written before the jobs fund scandal reduced government program spending concepts to mush and raised the awareness of voters to the possibility that Ottawa is not a safe haven for their tax dollars. The country needs infrastructure that's soundly financed and self-supporting, not projects whose existence is determined by politicians with the greatest inside pull and slickest riding association contacts. The future promises more of the same. The budget sets out new spending platforms that have not yet been factored into the long-term plan.
Climate change looms as a major spending area.
Make no mistake, these programs are just the beginning of the next phase of a Liberal plan to raise subsidies for pet projects and programs in the future. The Martin model, in fact, is to spend the money as it comes in.