By PATRICK BRENNAN TIMES-JOURNAL

Families should be able to take advantage of several initiatives embedded in Monday's federal budget, Joe Preston, Conservative MP for Elgin-Middlesex-London, pointed out just hours after it was introduced in the House of Commons.

"This is what we said we would do," Preston advised, pointing out the budget was almost identical to the one the Opposition failed to support this year.

Things that should appeal to families are: a new tax credit on children's arts programs; a family caregiver tax credit of up to $3,000 for people caring for infirm spouses, common-law partners or children; an increase of up to $50 a month for single seniors receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement and $70 a month for couples.

Preston said a new ecoEnergy Home Retrofit program that encourages homeowners to upgrade their residences to conserve energy is back for a year. "A lot of people had been asking for the ecoEnergy program," Preston said.
Another feature of the budget is the government is closer to bringing the Harmonized Sales Tax to Quebec.

Preston said it still remains to be seen if the budget will survive a parliamentary debate and be proclaimed into law.

The budget was the biggest issue for MPs, many of them rookies, gathered in Ottawa for the first time since the May federal election.

Preston said he was impressed with the mood in the early going. "So far, it was a good place to be," he said, noting MPs from all parties had agreed to restrict heckling.

Preston is standing for election as chairman of Parliament's procedural and house affairs committee, a body he chaired prior to the election.

The committee is responsible for all issues related to Elections Canada and matters related to Senate reform.