Message from Tony
This summer, just like we’ve done since 2015, our government is putting more money back in the pockets of Canadians. Last week, we delivered the new Grocery Rebate. Beginning this week, the summer pollution price rebate starts rolling out. These payments are worth hundreds of dollars for a family of four, and Canadians in smaller and rural communities get an additional 10 per cent top-up.
Pollution pricing is not only one of the best ways to fight climate change, but it also puts more money back in the pockets of Canadians. In fact, eight out of ten households get more money back than they pay, with low- and middle-income households benefiting the most.
The Canada Disability Benefit Act received royal assent on June 22nd and the Canada Disability Benefit is now a permanent part of our social safety net! The CDB will provide low-income working-age persons with disabilities a monthly federal income supplement and has the potential to lift hundreds of thousands of people out of poverty.
There are 6.2 million persons with disabilities in Canada. The harsh reality is that a person with a disability in Canada is twice as likely to live in poverty than a person without a disability. Approximately 23% of working-age persons with disabilities in Canada live in poverty, many in deep poverty.
This is why, above all else, the CDB is about poverty reduction and financial security. Like the GIS did for seniors and the CCB did for children (both initiatives by Liberal governments), the CDB has the potential to lift hundreds of thousands of persons with disabilities out of poverty. The details of the benefit will be established through a public regulatory process. I look forward to sharing details as we move forward.
Celebrating Italian Heritage Month
I was honoured to attend an Italian Heritage Month Celebration, hosted by Member of Parliament for Vaughan-Woodbridge, Francesco Sorbara with special guest, the Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
Over 13,000 Italians call Newmarket-Aurora home and continue to contribute to our thriving community every day.
It was a wonderful end to Italian Heritage Month, thank you to MP Sorbara, Minister Lametti, and all of the organizers of the event.
Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund
We’re working towards making $10-a-day child care a reality for families across Canada, which is why we’ve launched the Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund.
This $625 million fund will help public and not-for-profit providers deliver affordable child care by funding the cost of physical infrastructure.
In addition, this investment will support child care spaces for underserved communities, including in rural and remote regions, high-cost and low-income urban neighbourhoods, and communities that face barriers to access.
From our historic investments in early learning and child care, to helping with the costs of raising children through the CCB, our government is working to ensure that all children have the tools and resources they need to succeed.
Canada Dental Benefit Applications
A third of people in Canada do not have dental insurance, leaving many unable to get the necessary dental care.
Last year, we launched the Canada Dental Benefit, providing payments to families to help cover dental care expenses for eligible children under the age of 12.
Applications for the second benefit period are now open, and will provide even more eligible families with up-front, direct payments of up to $650 per eligible child under 12 for dental care services received between July 1, 2023, and June 30 2024.
Eligible parents can apply for this benefit period quickly and easily through their Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) My Account. Those who apply online and are signed up for direct deposit could receive their payment within five business days.
We know there is more work to be done and are taking strides to ensure that no one has to choose between taking care of their teeth and paying their bills at the end of the month.
Find out more about the eligibility requirements here.
Investing in our Auto Sector
Over the past years, we’ve worked hard to attract and secure multiple electric vehicle and battery projects. We’re continuing to deliver on these commitments with investments in the auto sector totaling up to around $25 billion.
Alongside the Government of Ontario, we’ve secured an agreement with Stellantis-LG Energy Solutions (LGES). Through this agreement, we’re providing performance incentives of up to $15 billion.
The agreement between our governments also extends to the project by Volkswagen Group to establish their first overseas battery plant in St. Thomas, Ontario. Volkswagen could receive up to $13 billion in performance incentives.
The performance incentives provided will protect and create thousands of good-paying jobs for workers, including unionized jobs, as we establish an end-to-end electric vehicle supply chain.
We’re going to continue to attract more projects and defend good, middle class jobs in Canada as we build the clean economy of the future.
National Adaptation Strategy
Climate change and extreme weather affect everyone in Canada, which is warming at twice the average global rate.
To help fight against climate change, we’ve released the National Adaptation Strategy, laying out an implementation plan that emphasizes cooperation and action plans between federal and provincial governments and Indigenous climate leadership.
The Strategy outlines 32 objectives and 23 targets across Disaster Resilience; Health and wellbeing; Nature and Biodiversity; Infrastructure; and economy and workers.
For every $1 we invest in adaptation measures now, we save ourselves up to $15 in costs across the economy.
Want to learn more about local adaption measures? Visit this website.
Community Volunteer Income Tax Program Grant
Many Canadians find it hard to file their tax returns and often miss out on important benefits and credits to which they’re entitled, especially in marginalized populations.
Through the Community Volunteer Tax Program (CVITP), community organizations host free tax clinics where volunteers file tax returns for people with a modest income and a simple tax situation.
In 2021, the CVITP Grant was introduced as a three-year pilot program, which aimed to help community organizations offset the cost of hosting free tax clinics and provides funding to organizations based on the number of federal income tax returns filed.
The CVITP grant is open once again for community organizations to apply for funding.
The deadline to apply is July 31, 2023.
