Reactions to the federal budget continue to come in from different quarters of the political spectrum of the province.

Iglika Ivanova, senior economist and public interest researcher at Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives said the budget includes some welcomed, and even significant, steps to help British Columbians deal with cost-of-living. But real relief for many residents will only come when governments get serious about addressing what she called B次元官网网址渟ky-high rents.B次元官网网址�

Ivanova said the Trudeau governmentB次元官网网址檚 one-time doubling of the GST tax credit B次元官网网址� called the B次元官网网址済rocery rebateB次元官网网址� in this budget B次元官网网址� is a welcome measure for the lowest-income British Columbians.

The federal budget also includes funding for a dental plan, which Ivanova called B次元官网网址渧ery significantB次元官网网址� because it will represent a major expansion of medicare in Canada, once implemented.

B次元官网网址淗owever, the dental plan will be implemented in stages and wonB次元官网网址檛 start until 2023-24, so for now itB次元官网网址檚 only low-income parents with children under 12 that qualify for reimbursement through the Canada Dental Benefit.B次元官网网址�

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Soaring housing costs, specifically rents, as well as high food prices, are the key drivers of the current cost-of-living crisis, Ivanova said.

B次元官网网址淭his is particularly true for B.C., which has some of the highest rents in the country but not the highest salaries to match.B次元官网网址�

BC Chamber of Commerce CEO Fiona Famulak said her organization welcomes the federal governmentB次元官网网址檚 sizable investment in green energy and continued support for the development of critical minerals. Additional plans to streamline regulations are important for the provincial resource sector, she added.

Finance Minister Katrine Conroy expressed concern about the lack of support for housing in the face of rising immigration and infrastructure.

While Ivanova pointed to some funding for the Prince Rupert Port Authority, she feels government could have done more.

B次元官网网址淭here doesnB次元官网网址檛 seem to be any new money for municipal infrastructure investment in this budget or for underfunded transit systems,B次元官网网址� she said, adding that Ottawa plans to review infrastructure spending later this year.

B次元官网网址淭his is another example of the government kicking the can down the road on an issue they know needs to be addressed.B次元官网网址�

wolfgang.depner@blackpress.ca
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