With the Harper government's federal budget on the horizon, MP Joe Preston meet with business leaders in West Lorne Jan. 10 to discuss Canada's economic future.

Budget 2012 will build on the next phase of Canada's Economic Action Plan. Preston attended the "Pre-Budget Consultation" at the Arts & Cookery Bank, West Lorne, and spoke with business leaders to gather opinions on where tax dollars should be spent, and what should and shouldn't be in the budget.

"We've plowed the field. The Federal government has, in the last five years, tried to do it's best to create a climate where business can happen," said Preston. "What else can your government do to make that field more approachable for a company to build a business here?"

Preston argued that having lower corporate tax rates have helped encourage that business climate.

"Each and every year the spending on health care has gone up six percent. We have promised it will go up by that same six percent, compounded each year for the next five," added Preston.

At the meeting, concerns were raised, such as the shrinking population in West Elgin, according to recent government census.

"Many large corporations in the United States and Canada are sitting on some pretty good dollars, ready for expansion," said Preston. "We need to push from a positive point of view."

In order to ensure that all Canadians can participate in pre-budget consultations, the Harper government has also launched an online pre-budget consultation at www.fin.gc.ca.

"I am a strong believer that the best ideas to help the economy in Elgin-Middlesex-London and across Canada is the result of talking to people directly about what works and getting their input," said Preston. "Indeed, many of the ideas we heard in these pre-budget meetings in past years have been directly reflected in the actual federal budget."