Two areas that are of great interest to residents of Lanark, Leeds, and Grenville were addressed by the federal budget on Thursday.
One of them was housing.
The Liberals says housing costs and availability can be blamed on a supply shortage and have committed to double construction of new housing over the next decade. But some help is expected sooner too.
When it comes to affordable housing, one of the biggest challenges facing residents in Lanark, Leeds, and Grenville, the Trudeau Government is proposing $4 billion over the next five years that would be distributed by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation through what’s being called a Housing Accelerator Fund to create at least 100,000 net new housing units.
Another 1.5 billion would go to the corporation over the course of the next two years to extend the Rapid Housing Initiative.
They also announced help for first time home buyers, like an increase in the tax-free first home savings account limit, and doubling the first time home buyer’s credit amount.
Another issue covered was a national dental plan, something that the deal with the confidence deal with the NDP hinged upon.
The plan proposed yesterday comes at a cost of $5.3 billion.
The government agreed to make it a priority to address the 33% of Canadian who don’t have dental care.
It rolls out this year. First, to those who are 12 and under. It will then expand to all children under 18-years-old, seniors, and differently-abled Canadians next year.
Everyone else has to wait until 2025, but it doesn’t cover everyone.
The plan will be restricted to families with an income of less than $90,000 per year, with no co-pays for those with annual income under $70,000.

Comments