Budget promises more infrastructure for Peterborough, MPP Piccini says
The Ontario government is projecting deficits of $9.8 billion during 2024-2025
Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini says the 2024 Ontario budget will greatly benefit residents living in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, through improved infrastructure and no tax hikes.
The Building a Better Ontario 2024 Budget was officially released on March 27. The Ontario government is projecting deficits of $9.8 billion during 2024-2025 as the budget takes off, according to the Government of Ontario website.
“We need the largest investment in public transit in Canadian history,” said Piccini. “Investments in critical local infrastructure.”
The provincial government felt that Ontarians are feeling a pinch financially, noted Piccini, which is why taxes will not be raised at this time.
“When other levels of government are imposing taxes, we’re saying no,” he said. “We’re going to ensure Ontarians keep more of that hard-earned money so that they can spend it on their family and things that they want to do.”
Some of the infrastructure includes a $200 million commitment to community rec centres, said Piccini. There will also be investments to deal with Canada’s housing crisis, he added, along with roads and water infrastructure.
“We invest in infrastructure for housing, for the generation seemingly banished to their parents’ basement, who want home ownership or affordable rental ownership,” he said. “We’re investing in the critical infrastructure, both roads and bridges.”
Lastly, there will be a $3 million investment for the Peterborough Community Health Centre, stated Piccini.
“This is significant for those we know who want access to primary care. And we know that those welltrained health-care professionals don’t come in an easy bake oven,” he said.
“We’re making those investments with a brand new med school that will be focused predominantly on primary doctors helping register now almost 6,000 internationally trained nurses, reducing those barriers for international trained professionals.”
Outside of infrastructure, there will be $100 million in the budget for a skills development fund that will help train over half a million Ontarians, noted Piccini.
“I remember joining members at the YMCA in Peterborough for one of our recent working for workers pieces of legislation,” he said. “And a number of those workers came up to me and said, ‘you know, we’ve been a beneficiary of the skills development fund; it’s helped us get better jobs with bigger paychecks.’ ”
It will be important for the provincial government to make sure the budget remains balanced, explained Piccini, however these investments in infrastructure are needed.
“We need to invest in those things. These investments in infrastructure will be there long after I’m out of office for 50-plus years,” he said. “This critical infrastructure is needed for a stronger Ontario.”