Skills training and infrastructure big budget winners

Nipissing MPP Monique Smith says the McGuinty Government's 2008 budget strengthens Ontario and creates opportunity in Northern Ontario. $1.5 billion investment in skills training and $1 billion for infrastructure.

Full details contained in the news release below.

*********************

The 2008 Ontario Budget is making major investments in skills training and infrastructure while balancing the budget and enhancing business competitiveness.

QUOTES

“This Budget is good news for Nipissing,” said Nipissing MPP Monique Smith.

“Not only will our community benefit from major infrastructure improvements to our roads, bridges and highways, but increases to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, the Northern Health Travel Grant and the acceleration of the Business Education Tax cut for Northern businesses further demonstrates our government’s strong support for the North and the well-being of our residents and businesses.”

QUICK FACTS

For Northern Ontario:

• Northern Ontario will benefit from its share of the $400 million in 2007-08 to build and repair municipal roads and bridges in communities outside Toronto. Funding will be distributed to municipalities based on their share of Ontario’s road network in relation to population;

• The Business Education Tax (BET) rate cuts for northern businesses will be accelerated, resulting in a total savings of more than $70 million over the next three years, including $4,107,435 in savings for Nipissing;

• Funding for the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation will increase from $60 million in 2007-08 to $100 million in 2011-12;

• The Northern Health Travel Grant will be enhanced by $13 million in 2008-09;

• Northern Highways will see investments of $302 million over the next four years;

• Highway 17 around North Bay and Highway 11 north of North Bay will benefit from highway safety improvement projects. This work will include the addition of new passing lanes, intersection and curve improvements, illumination and variable message signs;

• Infrastructure funding will help rehabilitate social housing units, including $1,011,000 for Nipissing; and

• Fifty more Family Health Teams, targeting rural and underserviced communities, will be added by 2011-12 with the investment of $53 million over the next three years.

Province-wide:

• $1.5 billion, three-year Skills to Jobs Action Plan will get more Ontarians into well-paying jobs and into long-term training for new job opportunities.

- $355 million over three years for a Second Career Strategy that will help 20,000 unemployed workers make the transition to new careers and well-paying jobs in growing areas of the economy

- For example, the Second Career Strategy would provide $20,000 towards tuition and living allowance for a manufacturing worker who wants to move to a skilled-trades job and attends a four-semester, two-year Mechanical Technician program at a college

- $75 million over the next three years to expand apprenticeship training

- Enhancing postsecondary student aid and investing in capital expansion and renewal.

• $1 billion in 2007-08 in new municipal infrastructure, which includes:

- $400 million for roads and bridges in communities outside Toronto

- $100 million to rehabilitate social housing units, including energy-efficient improvements.


• The Budget proposes the new Property Tax Grant for Senior Homeowners, which would provide $1 billion over five years to help low- and moderate-income seniors.

• $750 million over four years in proposed new business tax relief that includes:

- Eliminating Capital Tax retroactive to January 1, 2007 for manufacturing and resource firms, which would entitle them to $190 million in rebates

- A 10-year Ontario income tax exemption for new corporations that commercialize intellectual property developed by qualifying Canadian universities, colleges or research institutes

- An extension of an accelerated Capital Cost Allowance rate for manufacturing and processing machinery and equipment investments made before 2012.

• Early action on the McGuinty government’s poverty strategy:

- $135 million over three years to provide better dental care to low-income families

- $32 million over three years to double funding for the Student Nutrition Program

- Two per cent increase in social assistance benefits in 2008-09.

• $40.4 billion in health sector spending in 2008-09, a six per cent increase, which includes:

- More than $500 million over three years, in addition to other investments, to move towards hiring 9,000 nurses by 2011-12

- $180 million over three years for hospitals to reduce emergency department wait times and improve patient satisfaction

- $38 million over the next three years to add more nurse practitioner-led clinics

- Increasing enrolment spaces for midwives and nurse practitioners.

- Increasing spending in education to $18.8 billion, through Grants for Student Needs, in the 2008-09 school year to improve literacy and numeracy, increase graduation rates and decrease class sizes.

- The McGuinty government is helping postsecondary students with education costs. The proposed measures include:

- $385 million over three years for an annual Textbook and Technology Grant that will help every full-time university and college student.

- The McGuinty government is fighting climate change with investments in renewable energy and conservation, public transit and a proposed extension of the Retail Sales Tax exemption on ENERGY STAR® household appliances and light bulbs for another 13 months.

- There are no tax increases in this Budget. The McGuinty government is on track to achieve its third consecutive surplus and post six consecutive balanced budgets between 2005-06 and 2010-11.

*********************