Budget underwhelms Quebec students, environmentalists

While Quebec Liberals hail Monday's federal budget as a boon for the province, environment and student groups say Ottawa's offerings to la belle province are wanting.

Greenpeace Quebec said the Conservatives' pledge to spend $4.5 billion on environmental initiatives won't do much to reduce air pollution from vehicles.

The federal government will impose a levy on the heaviest polluting cars at the manufacturers' point of sale, and will also offer a rebate for new fuel-efficient vehicles.

The measures are interesting "but very marginal," said Greenpeace Quebec director Steven Guilbeault. "It will be [for] new vehicles sold. And only five per cent of new vehicles being sold will be affected by the levy."

Guilbeault doubts either measure will have any significant impact on greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles, which account for about 12 per cent of Canada's emissions.

Ottawa's measures for Quebec public transit are also disappointing, he said. "Toronto last week got close to $1 billion for transit. Where's the money for tram in Quebec City? For public transit in Gatineau or in Montreal?"

Quebec housing group FRAPRU slammed the Conservative budget for rehashing what it calls existing money that already flows to the provinces through transfer payments for social programs.

Student groups in Quebec are not impressed with Ottawa'scommitment to post-secondary education and the lack of new investment. The Quebec Federation of University Students blames Liberal Leader Jean Charest for overselling what he's accomplished in his negotiations with the federal government.

"He's painted himself into a corner, and we all have to suffer the consequences of that," said Trevor Hanna, a spokesman for the Quebec Federation of University Students.

"He was supposed to be good friends with Stephen Harper, and he was going to be doing a good job defending Quebec's interests towards the federal government. But I think he's been had, because [Ottawa] has presented something that at any other point in time Charest would have to say it's unacceptable.

"But because it's a week before the election, he's got to say this is a good step forward," Hanna told CBC.

Charest maintains the budget proves federalism can work for Quebec. He and the Liberal party are hoping the budget fallout will inject new life into their campaign for re-election, which has staggered in the past two weeks as polls show the three main parties are in a virtual tie.