MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - The recently released 2024 federal budget’s support for volunteer firefighters, including in this region, is positive and welcome news, says Mountain View County (MVC) reeve Angela Aalbers.
“The expansion of tax credits for volunteer firefighters and the commitment to train 1,000 wildland firefighters represent positive strides toward addressing critical public safety issues and recognizing the value that volunteer firefighters bring to Mountain View County and communities across Canada,” Aalbers told the Albertan.
The budget calls for $52.9 billion in new spending over the next five years, including $8.5 billion for housing. It also hikes capital gains taxes to collect $19 billion in new revenue.
It also proposes doubling the credit amount for the volunteer firefighter tax credit and the search and rescue volunteer tax credit to $6,000. That would increase the maximum tax relief to $900.
“Mountain View County acknowledges several positive initiatives outlined in the recent federal budget, yet we remain mindful of the critical areas where further attention is needed for rural communities such as ours,” said Aalbers.
As well as support for firefighters, another positive coming out of the budget is its support of the film industry, she said.
“We commend the federal government’s commitment to supporting Canadian film producers with a $100 million investment over two years,” she said.
“This aligns well with the Mountain View Regional Film Office, and we anticipate that it will further enhance our vibrant local film industry.”
The budget does not, however, include enough support for critical infrastructure, something municipalities had been calling for, she said.
“We are concerned about the lack of significant investment in rural road infrastructure, particularly as this is where Mountain View County requires the most long-term funding,” she said.
“Despite requests from the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) for a funding stream aligned with rural populations, such support has not materialized.”
Municipalities have been urging the federal government to “prioritize long-term funding for rural roads, recognizing their essential role in the county’s development and connectivity,” she said.
The budget also comes up short when it comes to addressing crime, including in rural areas, she said.
“While there is mention of intent to address auto theft in the Criminal Code, rural safety concerns, including handling repeat offenders, remain unaddressed,” she said.
“We call for a commitment from the federal government to amend the Criminal Code to tackle broader rural crime issues affecting our communities.”
It is also disappointing to see that the RMA’s request for a dedicated component of the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund specifically for rural communities was not realized in the budget, she said.
“It is essential that rural areas receive adequate support to build resilience against natural disasters,” she said.
The budget’s absence of full funding for the Universal Broadband Fund was also disappointing, she said.
“We remain acutely aware of the need for additional investment in rural communities to meet connectivity standards as outlined by the CRTC,” she said.
The county would like to see the federal government do more going forward to address the mounting federal debt and the associated high cost of repayment, she said.
“We urge the federal government to exercise fiscal responsibility and prioritize investments that benefit all Canadians while managing debt responsibly,” she said.
“Mountain View County remains committed to working collaboratively with all levels of government to address the needs and priorities of our residents and communities,” she added.
