Barrie-Innisfil MPP additionally mentioned the price of residing, housing targets and emergency planning in omnibus-style one-on-one interview from Queen’s Park
Price range speak? You can say that’s Andrea Khanjin’s pure setting.
Calling from Queen’s Park Thursday morning, the Barrie-Innisfil MPP and setting, parks and conservation minister answered questions from InnisfilToday on a variety of urgent points, together with the lately tabled provincial price range. Right here’s a few of what was mentioned:
InnisfilToday: Many advocates and Opposition MPPs have been calling for funding for the Lake Simcoe watershed within the price range. So, what’s in it to handle that difficulty?
Khanjin: The price range does point out Lake Simcoe just a few instances. The price range echoes our $50-million funding and partnership with the federal authorities for the phosphorus remedy plant … Ontario has already invested $24 million towards the plant. Total, since 2018, our authorities’s dedicated $27.3 million (to) Lake Simcoe. Each step of the best way, we’ve dedicated funding. What’s new within the price range for Lake Simcoe, I might say, is a program that’s going to be $3 million over three years for farmers and growers so they may improve their applied sciences for water high quality for fruit and vegetable washing.
InnisfilToday: What about street salt getting into the watershed?
Khanjin: I’ve already been proactive on that entrance. Once I was the parliamentary assistant for the setting, I did numerous roundtables and session on best-management practices. A number of weeks into being the minister, we … introduced some extra funding for Lake Simcoe initiatives; just a few of them focused Good About Salt campaigns with the Lake Simcoe Area Conservation Authority. The cash we introduced for this 12 months, I introduced earlier than the price range — that cash was already out the door, and keep tuned; extra money goes to be coming … exterior of the price range course of.
InnisfilToday: Inflation is outpacing earnings progress for many individuals. What’s within the price range to assist those that are struggling proper now?
Khanjin: We’re extending our fuel and gasoline tax cuts until the tip of 2024 … Ontarians, on common, will save $320 over two-and-a-half years. We’re not the social gathering that’s ever going to place in a carbon tax. We’ve checked out … the issues that might have an effect on each Ontarian equally. This builds on a number of the issues we’ve finished in earlier budgets. (And) we’ve appeared on the Ontario Assured Annual Earnings (System) for low-income seniors and we elevated that so we’ve got extra assist for these seniors who actually need it. They’re on a hard and fast earnings; they’ll’t simply exit and get a 3rd or fourth job.
InnisfilToday: What about a rise in Ontario Works, which hasn’t seen a big bump in fairly some time?
Khanjin: By way of ODSP (Ontario Incapacity Assist Program) and different applications, our strategy is we’re placing numerous funding into coaching employees. We’re pivoting to giving Ontarians the instruments they should ability up and get a extremely good paycheque. We’re doing much more expertise coaching to set folks up for long-term success.
InnisfilToday: We heard rather a lot about how governments have been left scrambling early within the COVID-19 pandemic because of a scarcity of emergency planning. Is the federal government doing something to arrange for the potential of one other one down the street?
Khanjin: Our authorities, even earlier than the price range (was) tabled earlier this week, has been steadfast on an emergency administration strategy to go over the teachings realized and the way we are able to higher put together the province for any future emergencies.
InnisfilToday: Barrie lately acquired a giant cheque for assembly its housing targets. Innisfil beat Barrie on its targets. Can we count on one thing quickly?
Khanjin: Keep tuned on that. There might be an announcement coming. It’s going to be occurring throughout the subsequent few weeks. Congrats to Innisfil.
InnisfilToday: Is there something you actually wished to emphasise from the price range?
Khanjin: Our authorities’s been constant in each price range — we’re by no means going to lift taxes and we’re by no means going to extend charges. Due to our authorities’s prudent fiscal administration, we’ve been in a position to keep regular and put money into core infrastructure we’re going to have for generations to come back. It’s a long-term funding.
