Courtenay – Alberni MP Gord Johns says the NDP’s influence over the minority Liberals means increased funding for his party’s priorities.
National dental care and pharmacare programs were launched, as well as funding for some Port Alberni projects
“A record amount of money and commitment for wild salmon, the ghost gear fund employs people in our community, there’s new funding to support the provinces and territories to procure firefighting equipment such as vehicles and aircraft so hopefully that ends up supporting some of our great operators like Coulson Aviation who’ve been fighting for that,” he said.
Last month the two parties signed a confidence and supply agreement that would see the NDP prop up the Liberal minority government in exchange for improved health care for families.
This budget marks the beginning of a new dental care program where children under 12 receive free care this year, and then seniors and children under 18 next year, then families with incomes under $90,000 the following year.
Johns said planning will also begin this year towards a national pharmacare program in the largest expansion in health care in more than 50 years.
He said while oil and gas, big box stores, and big banks are all showing record profits, bank fees and the price of gas and groceries continue go up, but due to NDP pressure, the Liberals at least raised taxes on Big Banks, but they left big oil and big box stores off the hook.
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