A Tory MLA in the Quad Counties says the recently announced provincial budget is business as usual.
Allan MacMaster, who represents Inverness, says there isn’t enough money for local roads and health care.
He says there are a few good things, such as increased income assistance and pandemic relief for small businesses.
MacMaster tells The Hawk it doesn’t address the crisis in senior care and mental health care made clear by the pandemic.
“I’m not seeing solutions there for some of these serious health care problems,” he says. “I’m disappointed by that.”
MacMaster says he also doesn’t see a way back to a balanced budget in four years.
He says he doesn’t know why the finance minister thinks there is.
“He basically said that this is a one-time thing- it’s not something we see that needs to be fixed in the future,” he says. “The future remains to be seen.”
MacMaster says the idea we’ll be back to a balanced budget by 2024-25 without a plan rings hollow.
He says he just doesn’t see enough economic growth in the province to make that happen.
