Budgets are about choices. But the one delivered by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty yesterday chose to give billions in corporate tax giveaways to profitable banks and oil companies while ignoring the priorities of pensioners, the jobless and hardworking Canadians.

Here’s what they are saying:

“In the end all CARP members got from this budget are some nice words and the promise of more consultation.” – Susan Eng, Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP), March 4, 2010

“There are over 1.5 million Canadians currently out of work. They deserve a government plan that involves more than massive tax cuts and wishful thinking.” – Paul Moist, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, March 4, 2010

“Let’s remember that it was the financial sector that caused the meltdown and the resulting economic crisis. Bay Street and Wall Street made billions of dollars for themselves at our expense. We paid for their excesses through job losses, high unemployment, devastated communities and shattered families. To add insult to injury, we paid for their excesses twice – first with our savings and pension plans and the second time with taxpayer bailouts.” – Ken Georgetti, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, March 4, 2010

“The budget does allow employment insurance premiums – what Conservatives previously called ‘payroll taxes’ – to begin to rise at the end of 2010, and counts on a $5-$16 increase in the Air Travellers Security Charge on round-trip air travel – what Conservatives have previously called ‘the air tax’.” – Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star, March 4, 2010

“Hidden in today’s budget is the government’s plan to significantly raise employment insurance rates – which means employers will be paying a much higher price to create new jobs... Higher EI premiums will cost the restaurant and foodservice industry nearly $30 million a year starting in 2011.” – Garth Whyte, Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA) President and CEO, March 4, 2010

“This deeply disappointing budget offers virtually nothing to create clean energy jobs or live up to our climate change commitments…Oil sands development is not mentioned a single time in the entire 451-page budget.” – Tim Weis, Director of the Pembina Institute’s Renewable Energy and Efficiency Program, March 4, 2010

“Chronic underfunding of Canada’s post-secondary education system has resulted in skyrocketing tuition fees and record high levels of student debt. With a record number of Canadians enrolled in college or university, this budget does nothing to help students and their families afford an education.” Katherine Giroux-Bougard, National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students, March 4, 2010.

“The freeze in foreign aid for subsequent years means Harper has reneged on his promise to bring our aid up to the average for donor nations.” – Oxfam Canada, March 4, 2010