Your Reaction?	Saturday, Feb. 4, 2006

[Paul Martin's] total failure to provide any additional money for affordable housing was deplorable. He more than anyone knows the need. To quote Mr. Martin's own words in May 1990 "Canada is confronted with a major housing crisis" --- "Homelessness is only the most visible manifestation of Canada's housing crisis" The $680-million over five years previously announced is woefully inadequate I'm sure he knows it. I know that he has a very demanding job but I cannot reconcile his stated views with his action. He demnonstrated that the topic is not even on his horizon by failing to even mention it in a list of 6 or 7 areas on which he would like to have been able to do more if he could; this was in response to an Andy Barrie question on CBC. This is not the kind of performance I would hope for from a potential future prime minister. This topic by the way has received scant attention from the media notwithstanding that it concerns a national crisis if not in fact a national disgrace.
Norman McLeod

Overspending on so-called security issues, underspending on health, environment and education.
M. Reid

Not enough attention is being given to debt reduction. Given our current demography and the future needs of our aging boomers it is of utmost importance to reduce our national debt. I am very concerned that our politicians will never do the right thing with regards to debt reduction. It seems that debt reduction does not satisfy an immediate need, so, our politicians (no matter what party; in my view) will always go with policies to ensure immediate re-election and self existence.
Mike Vezina

I feel that the government has once again not looked at what Canadians want. It has ignored the repeated insistence of increased spending in areas such as health care, environment and post secondary education. What will happen if they don't listen to us is that they will have polluted surroundings, no money to help them with their health and finally nobody to work in the hospitals because there is no funding to universities and colleges. Thank you Paul Martin.
Cameron Goodfellow

Bold and responsible
G.C. Keilty

I'm thrilled that the government has decided to let me pay more CPP and pay more when I travel. This way the only thing that I will be able to do is sit at home and watch the CBC. Thanks Jean!
John Michells

My first comments were fired in just after the budget release. Now twenty-four hours later it seems that the budgeted money is all politics without a thought to problem solving. Each minister salivates over control of the largest portfolio. The bigger the portfolio, the more the power in the hands of the minister. That is the total driving force of those in command of Canada's future.
Neville E. Hale

The liberals know how to do nothing but spend my money. They should have addressed security , the armed forces , and health care ..Nothing else. Polls clearly indicate that is what we the voters want done with our money. The liberals , in typical fashion ,always think they can ignore us. These arcane inventions of theirs as to how and where to spend my money make me sick.
Tom Wilson

Somehow the Liberals are unable to cut costs - after the Auditor General's report, you would think that a little bit of fiscal prudence would be in order - but hey, you can’t buy votes by being fiscally prudent!
George Duska

Waste, waste and more waste. Unbelievable pork-barrelling in a recession. A typical Liberal tax and spend in order to retain power, however, I think in 2002 this spend and waste will come back to haunt Martin and Chretien when unemployment reaches unacceptable levels for Canadians. This Liberal government should be downsizing its departments and ministries and allowing the private sector to initiate and innovate in this country. And no more corporate welfare to companies such as Bombardier, which now owes the tax payers almost $5-billion.
Jesse Andrew

More government spending, more taxation, bigger government, more waste, budget deficit, declining dollar; these will all be the result of this budget. On top of that one gets the distinct impression they are lying to us!
Mike Sweny