This week, Peter Schiefke, Member of Parliament for Vaudreuil-Soulanges and Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities joined the Honorable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, to unveil the 2024 federal budget titled “Fairness for Every Generation.”

The budget lays down a clear roadmap for a more equitable and prosperous future for communities across Canada, including the residents of Vaudreuil-Soulanges. 

Recognizing the unique needs of Canadian workers, seniors, and families, Budget 2024 focuses on tangible measures to ensure cost-of-living relief that will have direct impacts on citizens of Vaudreuil-Soulanges and Canadians from coast to coast.   

Among them, are:  

The introduction of a national universal pharmacare will establish the legal framework for pharmacare in Canada, and importantly, its initial rollout will cover contraceptives for over 9 million Canadian women of reproductive age, as well as life-saving diabetes medications and a fund for diabetic devices and supplies for the 3.7 million Canadians living with diabetes. 

Since the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) investment of $13 billion over five years was announced in Budget 2023, historic progress has been made to ensure everyone in Canada has access to the dental care they need. Children are already receiving care thanks to the interim Canada Dental Benefit and seniors have begun enrolling in the Canadian Dental Care Plan. By 2025, up to nine million uninsured Canadians will have dental coverage. 

Investing one billion dollars to create a National School Food Program, that will support existing programs and organizations serving food to children in Vaudreuil-Soulanges and across Canada who go to school hungry.  

Enhancing Support for Persons with Disabilities: The new Canada Disability Benefit provides $6.1 billion over six years, starting in 2024-25, with $1.4 billion annually thereafter, to support low-income Canadians with disabilities. An additional $243 million over six years will facilitate access by covering medical assessment costs required for eligibility. This initiative significantly strengthens financial security for persons with disabilities across Canada. 

Supporting the production of independent local news through an investment of $58.8 million over three years to the Department of Canadian Heritage for the Local Journalism Initiative. 

Promoting and supporting the vibrancy of the Canadian festival scene by providing $31 million over two years to the Department of Canadian Heritage for the Canada Arts Presentation Fund to help organizations who professionally present arts festivals or performing arts series. 

Increasing the RRSP withdrawal limit for first time homebuyers using the Home Buyers’ Plan from $35 000 to $60 000, to ease the burden of purchasing a first home.  

An investment of $161.9 million will implement automatic enrollment in a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) for eligible children who do not have a plan by their 4th birthday. Additionally, children from eligible low-income families will receive automatic deposits of the Canada Learning Bond payments. This initiative ensures that an additional 130,000 children each year benefit from the Canada Learning Bond through automatic enrollment. 

Investing over $14 billion in new funding to expand initiatives such as the Public Lands for Homes Plan, the Canada Rental Protection Fund, and the Affordable Housing Fund to help with the construction of 3.87 million new homes by 2031. This action aims to quickly boost the housing supply, making home prices and rents more accessible - for everyone.  

To assist Canadians in transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs), the government will maintain a federal subsidy of up to $5,000 for the purchase of new, eligible EVs. 

"Our budget is designed with every generation in mind and ensures that we not only provide additional cost of living relief in the short term, but also invests in transformative programs that will build the foundation for a more equitable Canada in the years and decades to come”, remarked Peter Schiefke, Member of Parliament for Vaudreuil-Soulanges. "The strategic investments in Budget 2024 will help bolster our community’s prosperity and ensure that Vaudreuil-Soulanges remains a vibrant place to live - for workers, youth, families and seniors alike."