This week, Finance Minister Bill Morneau presented Budget 2016, which provides help to those who need it most, and sets the stage for economic growth across Canada.
Our 2016 budget puts people first and invests in things that will directly benefit people in Thunder Bay-Superior north.
As we announced during the election campaign, we are introducing the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), a more generous, tax-free, and automatic benefit that will lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty and help many families in Northwestern Ontario.
Families with children under six years of age are eligible for a maximum benefit of $6,400 per child, per year, while families with children between the ages of six to 17 can receive a maximum benefit of $5,400 per child, per year.
Our government is ensuring that everyone has access to basic resources and has a safe place to stay by investing in shelters and transition homes, and we are investing more to build up our crumbling Northern infrastructure that is in desperate need of revitalization.
But more than that, our government knows that many people have difficulty finding an affordable place to live, especially in Thunder Bay-Superior North.
That’s why we are supporting the construction of new affordable housing units, and making more funds available to renovate and retrofit existing social housing units.
I am proud that we are honouring our commitment to re-open the Veterans Affairs office in Thunder Bay and rehiring staff to ensure that our veterans have efficient access to services they need.
I am also proud that we are honouring our commitment to a renewed relationship with Indigenous peoples by investing in education, on-reserve infrastructure and putting an end to boil water advisories.
I know that this budget will help people in Thunder Bay-Superior North and across Canada. Budget 2016 invests in people, in communities and in our country.
