Budget 2005 – Good News for the GTA

Canadians who live in the Greater Toronto Area expect the Liberal government to take major steps to deliver on its commitments. And that is exactly what Budget 2005 does.

This is good news for the GTA:

• Gas Tax Revenues: Ontario will receive more than $1.9 billion over the next five years as a result of the Liberal government’s decision to transfer a portion of federal gas tax revenue to municipalities. By year five, Ontario will receive $746 million per year in stable and predictable funding that will mean better roads, improved transit systems and more sustainable infrastructure.



• Immigration Settlement: Budget 2005 provides an increase of $298 million over five years for settlement and integration programs for newcomers to Canada. Ontario will receive approximately 60 percent of this funding. We will also invest $100 million over five years to take the next steps toward an integrated client service delivery strategy.



• Tomorrow Starts Today: An additional $688 million will be provided for the Tomorrow Starts Today art and culture package.



• Multiculturalism-Anti-racism: $171 million over five years to celebrate Canada and to help Canadian diversity find its voice in communities across the country.



• CBC: $60 million in 2005-06 for high-quality programming.



• CNIB: $6 million in 2005-06 and $1 million ongoing contribution to assist the Canadian National Institute for the Blind in digitizing its collection and extending its library services to Canadians across the country.

These initiatives build on our recent actions in Ontario:

• New Health Care Accord: Under the Liberal government’s 10-year Plan to Strengthen Health Care, Ontario will receive $16 billion in additional health care funding. Of this amount, $13.9 billion will be core health funding; $194 million is for medical equipment and $2.1 billion for reduced waiting times.
  
  
• Urban transit systems: The Greater Toronto Area and the city of Ottawa are benefiting from a $985 million investment to improve efficiency and help meet environmental goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
  
  
• Economic Development: The Government has contributed to Ontario’s economic development through a number of initiatives:
  
  
  • a $207 million investment in Pratt & Whitney to sustain Canada’s position as a world leader in aerospace research;
    
    
  • a $100 million investment in Ford of Canada to help it introduce innovative manufacturing processes;
    
    
  • a $106 million investment through the Canada Research Chairs program, to provide research funding aimed at helping Canada meet its goals to be among the top countries in the world for research and development.
  
  
  
• Homeless and Low-Income Families: In July 2004, we invested more than $100 million over three years in homelessness projects throughout Ontario as well as $58 million to support existing and additional child care.