This story is a direct reflection of viewers like you who have had questions about the federal budget. You can send your questions to [email protected].
Prime Minister Mark Carney and his Liberal government presented their first budget last week.
Many Canadians have written to us wanting to know how they plan to solve their problems.
We have set a task Katherine Cullenmaster House podcast and JP Taskersenior political reporter at CBC News to answer your questions and help you understand what's in and what's out of the budget.
When do they vote on the budget?
The main vote on the budget will take place later this month. We just don't know the exact date yet.
According to parliamentary tradition, debates are held over four days. for this.
“This is a chance for deputies, opposition parties, to kind of beat the government so that it presents some amendments, possible sub-amendments in which they would like to see some changes,” Tasker said.
Liberals survived two votes of confidence after MPs voted down a Bloc amendment calling on the House of Commons to reject the budget.
You can read more about the process and how votes may play out in the House of Commons. Here.
How will they pay for this budget?
This is always one of the biggest questions any federal government faces after budgeting.
Here's how Cullen and Tasker explained how the government finds the means to deliver on its promises.
How will this budget impact seniors?
There are no new measures specifically aimed at older people.
During the election campaign, the Liberals promised to reduce the minimum withdrawal amount from the budget. registered pension fund by 25 percent for a period of one year and increase guaranteed income supplement by five percent per year for low-income seniors. However, none of these measures were included.
“While there are no exciting new initiatives for seniors, it is important to note that the cost of benefits for seniors, especially GIS, is a huge portion of the federal budget,” Cullen said.
“Although the budget does not include additional support for older people, much government spending indirectly benefits them,” she said.
“Actually the cost Security in old age This figure alone is expected to reach $100 billion a year in the coming years, almost double the amount the government spends annually on health care transfers.”
Is there anything designed to reduce unemployment?
The federal government expects it will create thousands of jobs through local infrastructure spending.
He proposed $51 billion over 10 years for roads, housing, water/wastewater and health care facilities.
“Infrastructure spending has a lot of side effects. You hire construction workers, you put them to work, you put subcontractors to work,” Tasker said.
“Think about all the other jobs that go into construction.”
This is due to the fact that the Canadian economy a surprising 67,000 jobs added in October The unemployment rate fell to 6.9 per cent, according to Statistics Canada.
Is there anything that will help reduce food prices?
Canadians continue to feel the strain on their wallets as prices for some food items such as coffee and beef keep climbing.
Cullen and Tasker explain how some budget proposals can make food more affordable.
Is there any news in the budget for students?
Yes, there are several measures aimed directly at students.
Canada Summer Jobs Program could receive nearly $600 million over two years starting in 2026-27 if the budget passes. The funding is expected to create 100,000 summer jobs, a significant increase from the current 76,000 positions.
In addition, funding is provided student employment programwhich will support approximately 55,000 work-integrated learning opportunities for higher education students.
The government also wants to change eligibility Canada Student Grant. This would deny access to international students attending private colleges, which is expected to save about $280 million a year.
“The measure may ease pressure on housing and health care, but it could hurt universities that rely on international student tuition fees and impact tuition fees and jobs,” Tasker said.
However, the budget promises $1.7 billion to attract top international talent to fill Canada Research Chair Positions whose goal is to strengthen Canada's academic and research capabilities.
How are things going with finding first-time homebuyers?
Housing remains an important part of the budget, with an initial investment of $13 billion committed over the next five years to increase the supply of affordable housing.
The government plans to fund more purpose built rental buildings and offer tax incentives to developers to encourage construction.
The federal government's promise to “double” housing production initially meant building 500,000 homes a year. The Budget has since cut that figure slightly, now aiming to “nearly double” that figure to 430,000 to 480,000 homes a year.
It also eliminates VAT on new homes costing up to $1 million and reduces it for homes costing between $1 million and $1.5 million. These measures are intended to make new homes a little more affordable, although they only apply to new builds and first-time buyers.
“But in reality, the government can do very little. We live in a market economy,” Tasker said. “The government can help, but a lot of it depends on interest rates.”
What is there for people with disabilities?
The key finding relates to Disability benefits in Canada.
This is a long-promised Liberal government initiative that has been billed as a program that will help people with disabilities rise above the poverty line.
But in the end, the amount delivered is not as large as originally promised.
However, there are new measures to improve access to benefits. There have been consistent complaints that many people with disabilities find it too difficult and expensive to apply, especially because the process often requires doctor's notes or medical documentation.
To facilitate this process, the Budget proposes a commitment to reimburse applicants for costs. That's more than $100 million over four years. attach to this.
If you still have questions about budgeting, you can read here full offer.
