Here’s what stakeholders across Windsor-Essex say about the 2023 Federal Budget
The Trudeau government unveiled it’s 2023 budget Tuesday – but what’s in it for Windsor?
In a time when the region is preparing for big things in the automotive sector, THE President of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association President says: a lot.
“This is a southwestern Ontario, electric vehicle kind of budget. And what’s the capital of that? Windsor,” said Volpe.
He points to investment tax credits for clean energy as an enticing foil to the Inflation Reduction Act in the United States. Saying, while Canada hasn’t copied and pasted electric vehicle rebates from across the Detroit River, its taken good steps to entice manufacturers to keep picking Canada when looking to set up shop.
“I’m not particularly worried that they’re not there yet,” Volpe said. “I’d rather make the cars then just be incentivizing the consumers.”
Windsor Regional Hospital
A lot of the spending in the budget is earmarked for healthcare.
Windsor Regional Hospital CEO David Musyj points out that much of that was in the form of the previously announced health transfers to the provinces, and adds he doesn’t think it’s enough.
“Even though in raw dollars it is a substantial additional investment of about a billion dollars a year to Ontario in particular… it’s not transformational,” he said.
Musyj applauded the additional investments in national dental care, saying it will help ease some of the burden placed on hospital staff in the long run.
“We do see individuals attending the hospital who are in need of dental care, we have a handful of them a day, so we are hopeful that with this coverage that will reduce,” Musyj said.
Windsor West MP Brian Masse
Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said shortly after the release of the budget that his party would be in support – going on to say the document has New Democrat fingerprints all over it. Particularly with investments in dental care.
NDP MP for Windsor West, Brian Masse sayid it “completes” some of his party’s work.
“Overall, it’s a supportable budget that actually has some unique things for our area,” he said.
Masse added it wouldn’t make sense to oppose the budget and risk sending Canadians to the polls.
“If we went to an election right now, it’d be the worst thing for Windsor and Essex County,” said Masse. “Because we have to compete with the U.S. right now, reshoring a lot of manufacturing jobs.”
Windsor—Tecumseh MP Irek Kusmierczyk
“This is the most important budget for Windsor-Essex in generations,” said Irek Kusmierczyk, Liberal MP for Windsor-Tecumseh.
He said the budget stands on three pillars: jobs, affordability and healthcare.
He says the most important part of the budget is investment in clean tech manufacturing.
“It’s going to secure ant protect that battery investment in the corner of EC Row and Banwell and also the investments in electric vehicle manufacturing at Windsor Assembly and Ford – and it’s going to protect those 5,000 jobs,” Kusmierczyk said.
He does however say there’s at least one thing he’d been hoping to see included that was not: investments in a national school nutrition program.
Something that the Trudeau Government committed to rolling out in the last fall economic statement.
“In our community, we have some of the highest child poverty rates in Canada,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.