Provincial budget all about building better Ontario, says Huron-Bruce MPP
The provincial budget focuses on building a better Ontario and providing better services.
That’s the word from Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson, in response to the release of the budget Tuesday (March 26) by finance minister Peter Bethlenfalvy.
Like the rest of the world, Ontario continues to face economic uncertainty due to high interest rates and global instability, said Thompson. These challenges are putting pressure on Ontario families and their finances, as well as the province’s finances. Despite these challenges, Ontario is continuing to deliver on its “Plan to Build” by investing in infrastructure to get more homes built faster and attracting better jobs with bigger paycheques, all while keeping costs down for families and businesses and retaining a path to balance.
Budget 2024 delivers on key local priorities of building more community infrastructure, said Thompson. Announced Tuesday was the Community Sport and Infrastructure Fund which will help communities, including those in Huron–Bruce, grow and thrive as they look to invest in new, and upgrade existing, sports and recreation facilities. This will support the health and well-being of children, families and seniors across Ontario.
“Our government has a plan to build a better Ontario, all the while ensuring we keep provincial costs down because many families and businesses are feeling the pinch,” said Thompson. “I am pleased that local priorities throughout the communities in our riding are reflected in the budget, it demonstrates that our government continues to listen and deliver in the spirit of ‘Building a Better Ontario.’ I will continue to advocate on our communities’ behalf.”
The budget also reiterated a key priority of the Ontario government which is to build a stronger, cleaner electrical grid across the province. This includes continued support for the Bruce Power nuclear generating station and working on pre-development work for the first large-scale nuclear build in over three decades in Canada.
Health care has also been a focal point in this year’s budget as the province works to bolster its provincial system. While hospitals are core to Ontario’s health-care network, it can be more convenient for people to receive care through their family doctors or primary care teams.
It is for this reason that the government is making landmark investments to enhance access to primary care with a goal that everyone who wants to have a primary care provider can connect with one. The investment announced Tuesday will support connecting nearly 600,000 people to primary care through new and expanded inter-professional care teams.
In an effort to increase tourism across the province, the government has allocated funding to build around 250 new campsites across the provincial parks system. This includes the addition of 30 new campsites at MacGregor Point Provincial Park, near Port Elgin.
The government is also proposing to eliminate the wine basic tax that applies to sales of Ontario wine and wine coolers in on-site winery retail stores. The new rate would come into effect April 1. There will also be a targeted review of taxes and fees on beer, wine and alcoholic beverages with the aim of promoting a more competitive marketplace for Ontario-made products which will drive more agri-tourism for breweries and wineries across the province.
Highlights of the provincial budget:
- Investing $1-billion in the new Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program and quadrupling the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund to a total of $825-million to help municipalities repair and expand the critical infrastructure needed to reach their housing targets.
- Connecting approximately 600,000 people to primary health care by investing an additional $546-million over three years.
- Launching a new $200-million Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund to strengthen communities across Ontario by building and upgrading sport, recreation and community facilities.
- Investing $46-million over three years, including for the purchase of four police helicopters, to improve community safety by supporting increased patrols and faster response times to major incidents and serious crimes.
- Keeping costs down for people and businesses by proposing to extend the temporary cuts to the gasoline tax rate by 5.7 cents per litre and the fuel (diesel) tax rate by 5.3 cents per litre until December 31. This would save Ontario households $320 on average since the cuts were first introduced in July, 2022. This relief is especially important as the federal carbon tax is set to increase April 1.
- Adding an extra $100-million in the Skills Development Fund this year to help job-seekers advance their careers.
- The government is investing in courthouse facilities to improve safety, make efficient use of public space and modernize technology.
- Supporting individuals facing unstable housing conditions and dealing with mental health and addictions challenges by investing an additional $152-million over three years toward various supportive housing initiatives designed to assist vulnerable people.
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