Mike Bossio says he could not be more pleased with the latest federal budget.
The 2018 federal budget was released earlier today, and doesn’t include any tax cuts or hikes.
However, Canada’s deficit will sit at just over $18-billion, with no plans to balance the books for the next five years. The MP for Hastings-Lennox and Addington says this is part of the government’s plan to invest in Canadians in order to grow the country’s economy.
Bossio says the government will be able to eliminate its deficit by continuing to invest in Canadians.
The budget also includes a number of measures to promote pay equity and participation for women in federal work places. Bossio says this is not only the right thing to do, but also good for the economy.
Bossio says the federal government needs to lead by example in order to close the gender wage gap nationwide.
The budget will also see increases to Canada’s Working Income Tax Benefit in 2019. Bossio says this is a credit that allows low-income Canadians to spend less in taxes so they bring home more of their pay.
Bossio says the credit will automatically be deducted from income taxes once introduced so that Canadians won’t need to apply for it.
The federal government is also funding a study into a national pharmacare program, looking into if free prescription drugs could be provided to Canadians in the future. Bossio says, if a pharmacare program was introduced, it would be monumental for everyone in the local riding, but especially seniors.
Bossio says a national pharmacare program would free up more money for Canadians.
Funding has also been set aside in the budget that will allow new fathers to take up to five weeks off work starting in June, 2019. More than $230-million over five years is being put into fighting Canada’s growing opioid crisis. Investments are also being made in science, the environment, and reconciliation.
