Blaney reacts to federal budget

North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney is pleased to see important investments announced in today’s federal budget for key issues championed by the NDP such as dental care and affordable housing, but disappointed at the lack of urgent action to address climate change and poverty among seniors.

As promised in the confidence and supply agreement between the NDP and Liberals, the budget provides for the beginning of a national dental care program this year for children under 12. The benefit will expand next year to include youth under 18, seniors, and persons living with a disability, before being fully implemented for all Canadians by 2025. The budget also includes the first steps in the creation of a national pharmacare plan.

On housing, there will be a one-time benefit of $500 for nearly one million low-income households to assist with rent, as well as increases and speeding up of several national housing strategy programs to get more needed housing built faster. There are also changes to the criteria for the Rental Construction Financing Initiative to require qualifying developments to include a higher percentage of units at a more affordable rate than was previously allowed under the program. Finally the budget proposes a two-year ban on foreign investment in residential property.

“Our kids will get dental coverage and a million Canadians will get help to pay their rent, and that will make a difference in peoples lives,” said Blaney. “These are things that Liberals talked about for years, but it took New Democrats to secure results ensuring people get help this time.”

On the issue of addressing climate change, the budget does reduce fossil fuel subsidies by $9 million, which was part of the agreement between the NDP and Liberals. However, there is no additional funding for renewable energy or support for transitioning workers, and the government is staking much of its climate plan on a $2.6 billion carbon capture program, which has failed to reduce emissions thus far.

“The liberals are taking the country in the wrong direction on the climate crisis,” said Blaney. “We need to stop giving billions to big oil companies and start investing in workers and in green energy.”

For seniors the budget included an increase to the New Horizons for Seniors Program that funds projects by seniors-focussed community organisations, as well as an increase to the home accessibility tax credit. Blaney was disappointed, however, that there was no new increase to the Old Age Security (OAS) or Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) pensions, and that the July 1st increase to OAS remains only applicable to seniors of 75-years-old and up. The most significant win for most seniors will likely be the promised dental care plan.

“All seniors are facing the rising cost of living on fixed incomes,” said Blaney. “Giving an increase to only those 75 years and older doesn’t acknowledge that financial challenge and creates an unnecessary two-tier system.”

As NDP critic for veterans, Blaney has fought since 2020 to address the delays to veteran disability benefit claims. This budget includes $140 million between now and 2024 required to keep on temporary staff to eliminate the backlog on disability claims. The budget also includes a new program to provide services and rent supplements to veterans experiencing homelessness, and additional funding to expand services and programs for women and gender-diverse military personnel, and to address sexual misconduct and gender-based violence in the military. However, the budget lacks any reference to the veteran employment strategy promised in the Liberal party election platform.

“It’s clear from this budget that we’re making a difference,” said Blaney, “but also that we’ve got to keep fighting to build a brighter future that includes everyone – that’s more affordable, equal, hopeful, and secure.”