The National Capital Commission will no longer party on Canada Day or Winterlude.

The federal budget states responsibility for the promotion of the national capital region is being transferred to Canadian Heritage.

''As Canada prepares to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, the govenrment wishes to ensure that a broad, national perspective is brought to these celebrations," stated in the Federal Budget 2013 document.

That decision strips the NCC of one of its high profile mandates.

It still manages Official Residences and land resources in the capital.

Other decisions in the budget affecting our region include;

  • A 10 year $47 million renewal of Infrastructure funding that might help the City of Ottawa in its plan to stop raw sewage flow into the Ottawa River
  • Massive cuts of $367 million over the next five years to Canada Revenue Agency and Fisheries and Oceans
  • $121 million for the National Research Council over the next two years
  • Upgrade at the Thousand Islands border crossing
  • Government signals changes to sick leave and disability covering federal public servants

The 2013 Federal budget also provides an update on public service job cuts.

It states that more than 16 thousand jobs have been chopped from the payroll, most from attrition.

The government's three year target stated in last year's budget was over 19 thousand jobs.