In January the Association submitted a pre-budget proposal to the Government of Canada to support our Action Plan goals.
We recommended the government consider two specific strategic investments in the 2009 budget:
- funding for employment training to help address labour shortages in care sector
- make seniors housing eligible for new infrastructure investments - including renovations & upgrades of existing facilities
I am pleased to report that the 2009 federal budget included:
- $2-billion for social housing including low-income earners, seniors and people with disabilities
- $8.3 billion for Canada Skills & Transition Strategy - including extra support and skills training for communities most affected by the economic downturn
Other measures that may be relevant to you include:
- $500-million to expand the use of electronic health records through Canada Health Infoway
- personal income tax reductions, enhances seniors' tax credit and increase in income eligible for small business tax rate to $500,000 from $400,000
- freeze of EI premiums & improved work sharing provisions
According to federal officials, BC will receive historically high federal transfers in 2009-10 that will total $5.3 billion - an increase of $200 million from last year. More specifically, BC will see growing health ($3.2 billion) and social ($1.4
billion) transfers.
In the coming days we will be meeting with senior federal officials to discuss how some of these investments may roll out recognizing they want rapid turn-around - particularly in communities negatively impacted by downturns
in forestry and manufacturing.
Specifically we will be discussing opportunities to extend the BC Cares employment training partnership and eligibility of care facilities for seniors housing funding.
We will also accelerate discussion with
the BC government in advance of their upcoming budget.
