THE Conservative government appears to be really scared about federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau as evident in the almost identical press releases they sent the media about the government’s balanced budget.

The press releases noted: “While we’re focused on creating jobs, Justin Trudeau has the same old Liberal high tax, high debt agenda that will threaten jobs and set working families back.”

They added: “Meanwhile, the NDP continues to push risky high-tax schemes like a $20 billion carbon tax that would hurt Canada’s economy and kill Canadian jobs.”

The Conservatives did not even bother to name NDP Leader Tom Mulcair, who is Leader of the Official Opposition!

The press releases claimed: “Only our Conservative Government can be trusted to manage Canada’s economy and keep taxes low.”

They said: “Under our leadership, Canada has created over 1.2 million new jobs since the recession, but we live in uncertain times and the global economy remains fragile. That’s why Economic Action Plan 2015 will continue our Government’s focus on creating more jobs and growing the economy in Surrey and across the country.”

They noted that the Economic Action Plan 2015 includes key measures to support families and the provincial economies, including:

* Supporting Families: Economic Action Plan 2015 benefits 100% of families with children by lowering taxes and increasing benefits. An average family will receive $6,600 in support per year due to measures our government has introduced.

* Supporting Seniors: Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to provide more flexibility for seniors by reducing the minimum withdrawal factors for Registered Retirement Income Funds to permit seniors to preserve more of their retirement savings. Economic Action Plan 2015 also proposes to introduce a new, permanent, non-refundable Home Accessibility Tax Credit for seniors and persons with disabilities.

* Cutting Tax for Small Business: Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to further reduce the small business tax rate down to 9% by 2019. Due to measures taken since we formed government, we have reduced taxes for small businesses by almost 50%.

* Tax Free Savings Account: Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to increase the Tax-Free Savings Account annual contribution limit to $10,000, effective for the 2015 taxation year. There are now 11 million Canadians who have opened accounts to save money for their priorities.

* Supporting Job-Creating Businesses: Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to provide tax relief to the LNG industry and new funding to the forestry sector to help diversify their markets to emerging economies. These initiatives will help create jobs and economic growth for British Columbia.

* National Security: To ensure that our Armed Forces continue to have what they need to accomplish the dangerous tasks Canadians ask of them, Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes increase National Defence’s budget by $11.8 billion over 10 years. We are also providing new funding to help counter violent extremism and terrorism.