Reactions to the federal budget continue to come in from different quarters of the political spectrum of the province.

Iglika Ivanova, senior economist and public interest researcher at Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives said the budget includes some welcomed, and even significant, steps to help British Columbians deal with cost-of-living. But real relief for many residents will only come when governments get serious about addressing what she called 害羞草研究所渟ky-high rents.害羞草研究所�

Ivanova said the Trudeau government害羞草研究所檚 one-time doubling of the GST tax credit 害羞草研究所� called the 害羞草研究所済rocery rebate害羞草研究所� in this budget 害羞草研究所� is a welcome measure for the lowest-income British Columbians.

The federal budget also includes funding for a dental plan, which Ivanova called 害羞草研究所渧ery significant害羞草研究所� because it will represent a major expansion of medicare in Canada, once implemented.

害羞草研究所淗owever, the dental plan will be implemented in stages and won害羞草研究所檛 start until 2023-24, so for now it害羞草研究所檚 only low-income parents with children under 12 that qualify for reimbursement through the Canada Dental Benefit.害羞草研究所�

RELATED:

Soaring housing costs, specifically rents, as well as high food prices, are the key drivers of the current cost-of-living crisis, Ivanova said.

害羞草研究所淭his is particularly true for B.C., which has some of the highest rents in the country but not the highest salaries to match.害羞草研究所�

BC Chamber of Commerce CEO Fiona Famulak said her organization welcomes the federal government害羞草研究所檚 sizable investment in green energy and continued support for the development of critical minerals. Additional plans to streamline regulations are important for the provincial resource sector, she added.

Finance Minister Katrine Conroy expressed concern about the lack of support for housing in the face of rising immigration and infrastructure.

While Ivanova pointed to some funding for the Prince Rupert Port Authority, she feels government could have done more.

害羞草研究所淭here doesn害羞草研究所檛 seem to be any new money for municipal infrastructure investment in this budget or for underfunded transit systems,害羞草研究所� she said, adding that Ottawa plans to review infrastructure spending later this year.

害羞草研究所淭his is another example of the government kicking the can down the road on an issue they know needs to be addressed.害羞草研究所�

wolfgang.depner@blackpress.ca
Like us on and follow us on .