Portage la Prairie mayor Irvine Ferris was pleased with some of the highlights of the federal budget announced this afternoon.

"The big news in the budget, I think, is the establishment of an advisory council on the implementation of a national pharmacare program," says Ferris. "So, this is huge. It will have an impact on a good number of our citizens right here in Portage. We have folks with chronic health issues in our community, and some of them are on pensions and fixed incomes."

He says another announcement was made for $448.5-million that will be spent in the next five years for the number of summer job placements to be doubled. Ferris says the city and other organizations in Portage use this program quite often.

He adds the Canada Workers Benefit program was also mentioned in the budget, and this will fare well for workers in the city who are on low incomes. He says that announcement promises less will be taken out of their paycheques.