Budget 2017: Building a Strong Middle Class in the Thunder Bay Area  

News Release

March 29, 2017 – Thunder Bay, Ontario – Department of Finance Canada

Budget 2017 is the next step in the Government's long-term plan to create jobs and strengthen the middle class. Canada is home to a well-educated and highly skilled workforce, but as the demands of the workplace change, so too must the education and skills that workers bring to their jobs. The changes in the economy—both here at home and around the world—present incredible opportunities for the middle class and those working hard to join it.

Today, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance Ginette Petitpas Taylor was in the Thunder Bay area to highlight Budget 2017, Building a Strong Middle Class, the Government's ambitious agenda to support middle class Canadians at every stage of their lives, transform our neighbourhoods and communities, and give every Canadian a real and fair chance at success.

Speaking with local mayors, reeves, and Indigenous leaders, Parliamentary Secretary Petitpas Taylor discussed how Budget 2017 keeps Canada on the path to building a fairer, more inclusive country that reflects the priorities of Canadians. Ms. Petitpas also visited the Fort William First Nation Community, and she was joined by Don Rusnak, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay – Rainy River.

The Government understands that change must result in the kind of growth that benefits all Canadians, at every stage of their lives—young Canadians, newcomers to Canada, working Canadians, seniors, veterans and Indigenous Peoples.

Quotes

"Budget 2017 continues our plan to strengthen the middle class—the heart of Canada's economy. It makes smart and responsible investments that will provide Canadians with good, well-paying jobs and opportunities in the new, innovative economy."

Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance

"Budget 2017 continues our plan to strengthen the middle class—the heart of Canada's economy. It makes smart and responsible investments that will provide Canadians with good, well-paying jobs and opportunities in the new, innovative economy."

Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance

"Budget 2017 continues our plan to strengthen the middle class—the heart of Canada's economy. It makes smart and responsible investments that will provide Canadians with good, well-paying jobs and opportunities in the new, innovative economy."

Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance

Quick Facts

  • Budget 2017 support for northern Ontario includes:

     

       
  • Improving access to primary care, mental health services, and home and palliative care, and providing greater support for maternal and child health for First Nations and Inuit through an investment of $828.2 million over five years.

  • Investing $10.1 billion over 11 years in trade and transportation projects that will build stronger, more efficient transportation corridors.

  • Investing in a broad range of infrastructure projects that meet the unique needs of rural and northern communities through an investment of $2 billion over 11 years.

  • Supporting early-stage mineral exploration through an extension of the Mineral Exploration Tax Credit for flow-through share investors for an additional year, until March 31, 2018.

  • Supporting post-secondary education for Indigenous students through an investment of $90 million over two years in the Post-Secondary Student Support Program and $25 million over five years in Indspire, with additional leveraging from the private sector of $15 million. These investments will respectively support over 4,600 students' post-secondary financial needs, and provide bursaries and scholarships to an additional 12,000 students.

  • Helping to meet the growing demand from Indigenous Peoples for skills development and job training through an investment of $50 million in 2017–18 in the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy.

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Contacts

Media may contact:

Marion Pilon-Cousineau
Office of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance
Marion.Pilon-Cousineau@Canada.ca
613-369-5696

Media Relations
Department of Finance Canada
fin.media-media.fin@canada.ca
613-369-4000

General enquiries

Phone: 613-369-3710
Facsimile: 613-369-4065
TTY: 613-369-3230
E-mail: fin.financepublic-financepublique.fin@canada.ca

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