Facing no fewer financial constraints than the rest of us, Provincial Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy has titled his 2024 Budget, “Building a Better Ontario”. The document was released Tuesday and highlights include: an extension of the temporary cuts to the gasoline tax rate of 5.7 cents per litre and the fuel (diesel) tax rate by 5.3 cents per litre until December 31, 2024. Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP John Yakabuski says that’s of particular importance locally.
The Province will spend an extra $546 million over three years to help connect 600 thousand additional residents to primary health care. Not only that, but local MPP John Yakabuski says we still have something here nobody else in Ontario does.
$1 billion investment in the new Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, as well as quadrupling the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund to a total of $825 million for repair and expansion of critical infrastructure needed to reach housing targets was announced. Renfrew-Nipissing Pembroke MPP John Yakabuski says the two initiatives go hand-in-hand.
Highlights of the Province’s actions include:
The Province will spend an extra $546 million over three years to help connect 600 thousand additional residents to primary health care.
The Ford government is launching a new $200 million Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund dedicated to new and upgraded sport, recreation and community facilities.
An extra $100 million investment in 2024–25 is dedicated to the Skills Development Fund Training Stream, and an additional $152 million over three years will go to various housing initiatives designed to support the vulnerable.
A “path to balance” remains a priority, with projections indicating this will occur in the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
(Written by: Rick Stow)