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Provincial budget promises to freeze ferry fares on major routes and reduce others

The provincial budget has been released and, as expected, childcare and housing feature prominently in the package.

Of particular interest to ferry dependent communities, like the Sunshine Coast, ferry fares will be frozen on all major BC Ferries routes, there will be reduced fares on non-major routes and the seniors passenger fare discount for Monday to Thursday will be fully restored.

The province plans on introducing a new affordable child-care benefit that will reduce child-care costs by up to 1,250 dollars per month over the next two to three years.

Nanaimo MLA Leonard Krog says not only will the budget be balanced for three years in a row, it will put money back in the hands of working people…..
Krog says there’s been criticism about there being nothing to improve the economy in the budget.
However, he says there’s 7 billion dollars in capital spending planned.
The MLA for Parksville/Qualicum, Michelle Stilwell says the NDP budget introduced some steep tax hikes, many of which are on the backs of business in the province……
Stilwell says the NDP are also breaking some election promises, like the 10 dollar a day daycare and the 400 dollar renters rebate.
During the budget, there were no mentions of a $10 a day child care, but Simons says there was never a commitment to implement such a program during their first year.

The province plans on curbing speculation in B.C.’s housing market and helping to build 114,000 affordable rental, non-profit, co-op and owner-purchase housing units through partnerships.

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V-I-U’s Carol Desilets said, following the throne speech there is a shortage of student housing and if an opportunity to increase the availability came along the University would be on board.

Medical Services Plan premiums will be eliminated by January 2020.

However, employers, with payrolls over 500,000 dollars will have to pay a new health tax.

That’s expected to boost the government coffers by one point 9 billion dollars.

Free bus passes for people on disability assistance will be reinstated.

Jennifer Whiteside, of the Hospital Employees’ Union says the budget offers a great start towards injecting the funding that’s needed towards seniors care…..
548 million dollars will be injected into seniors care over the next three years.

More teachers will be hired and 18 million dollars will boost services that provide outreach and counselling support for women and children affected by violence.

Increased funding for B.C.’s agrifood sector to support enhanced Buy BC, Grow BC and Feed BC initiatives to drive consumer demand and get B.C.’s goods to overseas markets.

The commitments will be funded, the NDP government says, by improved revenue forecasts as well as from new revenue sources like a speculation tax, and increases in the foreign buyers’ tax, and the employer health tax.

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