Since #Budget2017 was tabled, I’ve been reading and dissecting every word and figure!
As a Nova Scotian MP, I’ve been looking to see what the budget really means for our province.
Mental Health, Prescription Drugs and Home Care
We know that we have to do more for mental health awareness and support. Nova Scotia alone- will receive $130.8 million in targeted mental health care funding. Budget 2017 also proposes improving access to prescription medications, lowering drug prices and other innovative healthcare practices. We need to do more to help Nova Scotians stay of hospitals while receiving the care they need in their homes. Nova Scotia will receive $157 million specifically for home care.
Clean Technology and Innovation
As you know, I am so proud of the many innovative Clean Tech businesses in Dartmouth’s Burnside Industrial Park. Budget 2017 includes significant investments and funding for clean tech research, innovators and businesses. With a proposed $1.26 billion investment in the Strategic Innovation Fund we’ll see growth in this important sector. And that means jobs!
Opportunities for Skills Training
Unemployed and underemployed Canadians should be able to get the skills they need to succeed. Budget 2017 proposes to invest $2.7 billion in employment and skills training opportunities to help folks upgrade their skills, gain experience or start a business! The new Innovation and Skills Plan will help those receiving EI obtain job training and more.
Flexibility for Canadians
I’m so pleased to see such progressive proposed changes to Employment Insurance (EI) benefits. The new EI Caregiver Benefit along with improvements to parental benefits will make positive differences in the lives of many Canadians. We are investing $7 billion to create more affordable and high quality child care spaces in Canada. All of these measures and more provide the flexibility that Canadians deserve.
Supporting Seniors
We know that seniors deserve a secure and dignified retirement. We will provide the provinces/territories with $3.2 billion over the next 11 years to support key priorities for affordable housing. That could include supports for safe and affordable independent living for seniors and more. We will be including extra investments in the Enabling Accessibility Fund to ensure our community spaces remain safe and accessible for all Canadians!
There’s More, 278 Pages Worth
Over the next few weeks I’ll post more about Budget 2017 and what it means for us.
I really look forward to the creation of Canada’s National Housing Strategy which will ensure that all Canadians have affordable and safe housing. There’s a lot more in this 278 page Budget book to chat about!
There’s so much we need to do- and Budget 2017 works to keep us on track.
Don’t want to wait? Have a look for yourself:http://www.budget.gc.ca/2017/home-accueil-en.html