Message From Tony
We are constantly reminded of the complex and challenging world we live in. Safety and security are basic human needs. Today we are faced with global events like the conflict in the Middle East and the Russian invasion of Ukraine that threaten world security. Here in Canada, our way of life is challenged by the real impact of climate change: wildfires, flooding, and destructive storms are becoming more common. Ontario is witnessing an increasing number of tornados and is now considered the tornado capital of the country. Within our communities, crime seems to be a daily occurrence.
As the Prime Minister has stated,” our Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are more important than ever – from defending Canada and securing our sovereignty in the Arctic, to protecting our continent alongside the United States, to providing life-saving assistance to Canadians impacted by natural disasters, to strengthening NATO’s collective defence and helping Ukraine defend itself, to increasing our presence in the Indo-Pacific.”
Much has been said about our commitment to NATO and achieving the target of 2% of GDP spending on defence. We have been significantly increasing our defence spending, and are now far ahead of the highly-restricted funding under the Harper-Poilievre government. New funding outlined in Budget 2024 builds on historic investments to support our Armed Forces, strengthen Canada’s defence capabilities, and respond to global challenges. Together with our ongoing investments, these measures are expected to increase spending from 1.33 per cent to 1.76 per cent of GDP.
The increasing costs and security risks of climate change are well documented. The Canadian Climate Institute’s report, Damage Control: Reducing the Costs of Climate Impacts in Canada, estimates that by 2030, Canada could face annual losses to GDP of $35 billion. Studies consistently show the costs of inaction significantly outweigh the costs of acting. And did you know that in 2023, there were 190,000 internal displacements due to natural disasters?
We continue to address crime through measures such as bail reform, The National Action Plan on Combatting Auto Theft, and measures to address the unacceptable rise in hate incidents experienced by many communities, and especially our most vulnerable citizens.
We remain steadfast in our approach to ensure Canadians can feel safe and secure in the communities they call home while providing the measures needed to protect our nation.
Making it easier to add secondary suites and unlocking vacant lands to build more homes
Across Canada, too many properties are underused or vacant—from unused basements, to empty office towers, to vacant lots—and could be used to build more homes.
We announced technical guidance for lenders and insurers to offer mortgage refinancing for homeowners looking to add secondary suites to their homes, starting January 15, 2025. These mortgage insurance reforms, as well as the forthcoming Canada Secondary Suite Loan Program, will make it easier for homeowners to convert and unused basement into a rental apartment or a garage into a laneway home to increase density in our communities.
These changes will:
- Allow refinancing of insured mortgages for secondary suites, to let homeowners access the equity in their homes to finance the construction of secondary suites.
- Increase the mortgage insurance home price limit to $2 million for those refinancing to build a secondary suite, to ensure homeowners can access this refinancing in all housing markets across the country.
We also announced that an additional 14 underused federal properties have been identified as suitable for building new homes. With these additional federal properties being added to the Canada Public Land Bank, a total of 70 properties have now been unlocked and are available to homebuilders as of last week. This is part of our work—as Canada’s largest landowner—to turn unused and underused federal properties into 250,000 new homes.
By making it easier for homeowners to add secondary suites to their existing homes, and unlocking vacant lands and underused federal properties for housing, we can build the supply of homes Canada needs to make housing more affordable for every generation.
Delivering the Canada Carbon Rebate to millions of Canadians
While the Conservatives want to let the planet burn and rip up the rebate, our government is taking action to fight climate change and put money directly back in the pockets of middle-class Canadians. On Tuesday, Canadians from coast to coast to coast received their quarterly Canada Carbon Rebate (CCR).
Affordability is front and centre in our pollution pricing system and the CCR. The vast majority of Canadians get more money back through the CCR than they pay into the system, because big polluters pay the most. Because of the Rebate, families have more money for groceries, clothes, and the things they need.
In Ontario:
- A family of four received $280.
- A couple with no children received $210.
- An individual with no children received $140.
And not only did we double the Rural Top-Up, but we are tripling the Rural Top-Up cheques to cover April and July’s payments. Going forward, small businesses will also qualify for the Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses.
Polling has been clear: Canadians support carbon pricing significantly when they are aware of the Canada Carbon Rebate. Don’t let the Conservatives ruin the Rebate — Canadian families need it more than ever.
Apply for the Newmarket-Aurora Youth Council!
Are you:
- a resident of Newmarket-Aurora?
- aged 15-25?
- interested in politics?
If you said yes to all three, then I encourage you to apply for the 2024-25 Newmarket-Aurora Youth Council (NAYC). The Council meets monthly to provide insight on issues important to them. They also learn more about Parliament and what an MP does, while meeting other young leaders from across the community, as well as occasionally sitting down with a government official.
Over the past year, I’ve been pleased to meet with my Youth Council to visit long-term care facilities, write Valentine’s cards for Veterans in our community, create a 2024 Pre-Budget submission, and advocate for a National School Food Program.
The NAYC is non-partisan and all youth from Newmarket-Aurora are welcome. If you are unsure whether you reside in the riding, you can enter your postal code on this website. Applications are due by Monday, October 20th, 2024, at 11:59 EST.
