The Justin Trudeau government害羞草研究所檚 new national housing plan promises about $1 billion a year for the next decade to help bring housing costs into reach for more Canadians.
Finance Minister Bill Morneau害羞草研究所檚 second budget, , promises a 害羞草研究所渞enewed partnership害羞草研究所� with provinces, and an additional $11.2 billion over 11 years to increase housing affordability.
That is on top of last year害羞草研究所檚 budget commitment to fund 害羞草研究所渓ow-cost loans and new financing tools to encourage municipalities, housing developers and non-profit housing providers to develop more affordable rental housing units.害羞草研究所�
A centrepiece of Morneau害羞草研究所檚 budget is skills development, to help people adapt to a rapidly changing economy, focused on agri-food, digital industries, 害羞草研究所渁dvanced manufacturing,害羞草研究所� clean technology and bio-sciences.
Employment Insurance premiums are going up five cents next year, while parental leave can be extended to 18 months, at a lower rate of one third of average weekly earnings.
Operating deficits continue to soar in the federal government害羞草研究所檚 plan, projected to go from $23 billion in the current fiscal year to $28 billion in 2017-18. The budget forecasts the government would still be in the red $19 billion by 2021-22. Trudeau campaigned in 2015 on a promise to run deficits no larger than $10 billion a year and balance the operating budget by 2019.
Aaron Wudrick of the Canadian Taxpayers害羞草研究所� Federation said weaker projected revenues combined with new spending will see the debt pile up to the point where interest costs alone will be $143 billion over the next five years.
Wudrick praised some measures, including a promised spending review for government departments, a commitment to expand free trade between provinces and an effort to crack down on tax evasion.
Conservative interim leader Rona Ambrose said the government害羞草研究所檚 vaunted tax cut for the middle class last year has been eaten away by tax and fee increases. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 like they害羞草研究所檙e nickel and diming everyone,害羞草研究所� Ambrose said.
Burnaby MP Kennedy Stewart, the federal NDP害羞草研究所檚 B.C. caucus chair, pointed to cuts of more than $1 billion for Canada害羞草研究所檚 climate change framework over two years.
害羞草研究所淎fter promising real change, Justin Trudeau adopted Stephen Harper害羞草研究所檚 environmental assessment process and climate change targets,害羞草研究所� Stewart said. 害羞草研究所淭his budget shows British Columbians the Liberal government is more of the same.害羞草研究所�
