The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

18 5, 2018 / Milton Canadian Champion | Thursday, April 5 ONTARIO / 5 Province investing in vital public services,' ® Continued from page 12 Redden-shared Hoey's con- cerns, but said his organi- a zation was excited over the, 'announcement of a 10-year, $100-million Greater To- ronto and Hamilton Area fund that will aim to help small- and edium- sized businesses. While some are criticiz- ing the projected deficit laid out in_the Liberals budget, Oakville MPP Kev- in Flynn said he would re- spond to critics by remind- "ing them Ontario's econo- insidehalton.com my 1s strong -- outper- forming the rest of Canada ", ON NOW AT THE BRICK! and every G7 country, it§ unemployment rate is the lowest it has been in two decades, and this year the province will have a $600- million surplus. "This isnot the time to make deep and irresponsi- ble cuts to the services peo- ple in Oakville rely on and deserve," he said. "We need to invest in our people and in our fami- lies, and the 2018 Ontario budget is our plan to make sure these investments are made and everyone has the chance to get ahead." Flynn noted the budget is making investments in RICK PROV OLY CANADIAN SINCE 197) health care, child" care, mdhtal health, and sup- ports for seniors, while en- suring the creation of more job opportunities for peo- ple in Oakville. The province is also in- vesting $510 million in the construction, additions and retrofits to 62 French- language schools across Ontario. Burlington MPP, Elea- nor McMahon said/he in- vestments in care and ser- vices are being done to hedge signs pointing to slower economic growth ahead, and economic un- certainty, such as the OR NEW ANVENTZRY 0,00! SAVING YOU MORE For more details go instore or online @thebrick.com. Buy 1, Get the 2"? at 50% OFF 5 DAYS ONLY! valid from April 5-9, 2018 Don't miss out on this limited time offer! . SOUTHSIDE PAINT & WALLPAPER 1030 KENNEDY CIRCLE MILTON 905-864-0665 North American Free Trade Agreement. "People are feeling this uncertain- ty, and over the last num- ber of months and through our -pre-budget consulta- tions, have told us that they need our help, with some of the burdens they are facing in their daily lives: the ris- ing cost of housing, aging parents, ?and the cost of child care, which has the impact of hampering their return to the workforce," she said. Halton MPP Indira Nai- doo-Harris noted Halton's hospitals would be getting a $27.58-million invest- ment for 2018-19. Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring | applauded 'the " provincial governmeént for supporting - the not-for- profit Habitat for Humani- ty, which 'will receive. $5.8 million over three years to establish a build factory in his community. The facility will create components for safe, de- cent and affordable homes that can be assembled and transported to as many as 120 Habitat for Humanity construction sites across Ontario. The province is invest- ing to improve quality of care and life for seniors and stated there will be free prescriptions for people aged 65 and older through OHIP+ and eliminate the Ontario Drug Benefit an- / says Naidoo-Harris - nual deductible and co-pay cluding a four-reom child- -- a projected average sav- J care ¢entre for $2 million. ings of $240 per year. The new Seniors' Healthy Home Program will give up to $750 annual- ly to eligible households led by seniors aged 75 and older to help them live in- dependently - and offset costs of maintaining their homes. Seemingly directed at the province's aging demo- graphic, the budget calls for the creation of 30,000 new long-term care beds, over the next 10 years, with 5,000 new beds by 2022. Naidoo-Harris said the 2018 budget invests in "vi- tal public services and sup- ports that Halton parents, families. and seniors rely on," such-as health care, child care: and mental health supports. The province an- nounced it would provide free preschool child care for children aged two-and- a-half to kindergarten -- an average estimated. sav- ings of $17,000 per child. Naidoo-Harris noted specific benefits for Halton in the 2018 budget, such as the addition of two new - schools and three renova- tions with 17 child-care rooms in the region. Milton's Bishop Reding Catholic Secondary School is receiving $18 million for an addition that can ac- commodate 609 pupils, in- The Milton GO station will be getting redeveloped with a new station build- ing, upgraded parking lot with an additional 850 spots, accessible connec- tions to platforms and bicy- cle storage. | Meanwhile, Hwy. 401 will get an expansion to an 18-kilometre strip from the Credit River Briflge in Mis- ,sissauga to Regional Road 25 in Milton from six lanes to either 10 or 12 lanes to ease congestion. with files from the Toronto Star. Budget reaction from Milton Mayor Gord Krantz "Overall, | strongly support the five key pillars of the Ontario budget. The focus on child care, mental health, drug and dental programs, health care and seniors will be an important contribution to our community and our well-being," said Krantz. "| am pleased about the investment in university-led post-secondary education, which includes a site in Milton, with our partner Laurier University. An educational institution will form an integral part of the future Mitton Education Village and be a vital component of the Innovation Corridor. We are looking forward, with great anticipation, to an announcement to that effect shortly."