I’m really not a big fan of tax cuts so Ralph’s budget economic update doesn’t have me exceedingly thrilled. I also find it odd that Harper’s 18 billion dollar tax cut package was attacked as a recipe for deficit last campaign and now Goodale is ready to dish out 30 billion in tax breaks.

That said, this is definitely a budget that will appeal to a lot of voters out there and it gives the Liberals some substance to campaign on. It’s also very good news for the NDP who will be able to play up the “Liberals and Conservatives: different logo, same party” angle.

UPDATE: The tax proposals contain a retroactive tax cut for 2005. Very clever indeed. Now the Liberals can go around saying that forcing the early election will cost each and every Canadian 325$. Say what you want about them, but when it comes to winning elections, no one does it better than the big red machine.

Oh, and just so I don’t sound completely negative, there is 2.75 billion for post-secondary education and 3.5 billion for job training in the package which I think is money well spent. I’m still not big on the tax cuts though…