Kenora, ON — “I was pleased to announce at the Kenora Discovery Centre that our government’s 2019 budget offers a plan to finally begin the twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway between Kenora and Manitoba,” states Kenora MPP and Minister of Northern Developement and Mines Greg Rickford.
“This will be good for road safety, economic growth, and the families who call Northern Ontario home. This budget also delivers on other important priorities for our communities”.
“I’ve travelled back home to Kenora several times over the past few months to make announcements on how our Government for the People is helping Kenora families. From investments in our regional health care system for more hospital and hospice spaces to investments for municipal governments to better serve our residents—we’ve been focused on protecting what matters most,” said MPP Greg Rickford. “But in addition to our plan that puts families, seniors, and job-creators first, this budget offers something promising and long overdue for the people of Kenora…a plan to finally begin the twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway between Kenora and Manitoba. This will be good for economic growth, road safety, and hardworking families that call Northwestern Ontario home.”
Rickford says that under the Liberals, $100 million was supposed to be earmarked for the twinning project, but after 10 years, no progress was ever made.
“Previous Liberal governments were all talk on Highway 17 twinning,” adds Rickford. “But the people of Northern Ontario can take our commitment to the bank, and Budget 2019 reflects how seriously we take this project.”
The 2019 budget offers much for Ontarians to be proud of and encouraged by. The budget’s signature Childcare Access and Relief from Expenses (CARE) tax credit, for example, put parents at the centre of the decision-making process—helping low and middle-income families recover up to 75% of childcare costs per year—whether it be for daycare, home-based care, or even camp programs.
Additionally, the 2019 budget sets aside $90 million to help seniors in need of dental care—providing access for the more than two-thirds of low-income seniors who currently cannot afford it.
“From day one, we’ve been focused on delivering on the promises we made to Ontarians—putting more money in people’s pockets, creating and protecting jobs, safeguarding our public health care system to make it work better for patients, and making life more affordable for families across the province,” said Rickford. “In addition to the unprecedented level of activity during our first nine months in government—much of which was geared toward Northern Ontario—this budget puts people first, helps families make ends meet and businesses grow, and sets Ontario on sound financial footing for the future by getting us to balance in five years.”
