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CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM FOR MP ABOUT FEDERAL BUDGET
GREGG CHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca
MP Francis Drouin expressed cautious optimism about the new federal budget. “I’m happy to see the future of where we’re going,” said Drouin, during a phone interview April 5. The 2023 federal budget announced last month includes $43 billion in new spending programs over the next six years with its main priority targets as health care, fostering a “greener” economy for Canada, and helping make life “more affordable” for Canadians. Critics of the new budget complain that it does not include either new money or plans to deal with the issue of affordable housing that is becoming a growing concern for many municipalities or more funding help for dea- ling with aging municipal infrastructure like roads. Drouin noted that previous federal bud- gets have set up programs dealing with those issues and that those programs are still in place. “There is going to be accelerated fun- ding,” Drouin said, for affordable housing programs. “There are funds that are avai- lable. But municipalities will have to step up and mandate how those projects go ahead.” The MP indicated that municipal govern- ments must be more active in dealing with developers on creating more affordable housing units within their communities. He cited as one example that local government could require developers to guarantee a specific percentage of affordable housing units as part of a new residential project during the municipal planning and approval phase. Drouin noted that the federal government has to be cautious about how it delegates funding aid to avoid creating an artificial economy that is dependent on senior govern- ment money. i8FIBWFUPCFDBSFGVMOPUUPJOKFDUUPP much money into the economy,” he said, “as it could cause inflation.” The MP observed that Canada still has a Triple-A international credit rating, which is a sign of confidence in the country’s economic
Le nouveau budget fédéral prévoit d’aider davantage les agriculteurs à réduire leurs coûts d’exploitation et de soutenir les entreprises de l’industrie laitière, comme la fromagerie St-Albert. —photo Gregg Chamberlain
The federal budget includes $3.6 billion in new money during the 2023-2024 fiscal year for health care. That includes Stage Two of the federal dental care plan worked out through an agreement between the -JCFSBMTBOEUIF/%15IFQSPHSBNMBVODI last year provided dental care assistance for children under the age of 12 from low-income families. Stage Two expands that coverage to Canadians under the age of 18, people with disabilities, and seniors. The expanded support program will be in full operation by 2025. Drouin promised to monitor how the expanded program operates during that time. He noted that some low-income families and individuals have to deal with tight budgets for food, hydro, home heating, and other expenses. He agreed that any dental care assistance program that required “up-front payments” first for dental care bills with federal rebates at a later date would be no benefit for many low-income families. des panneaux du parc, un déploiement de lumières de festival pour marquer la saison EF/PÌM EFTQSJTFTÊMFDUSJRVFTQPVSTPVUFOJS des événements spéciaux et une nouvelle dédicace du cairn. Les projets énumérés ont un coût prévu de 66 250 $, qui a été réparti entre le can- ton, le Russell Police Village Trust et les contributions de la communauté. Le Police Village Trust contribuera à hauteur de 27 225 $, la communauté contribuera à hauteur de 12 900 $ et la part de la municipalité est de 26 125 $, qui proviendra de la réserve du fonds d’appariement. « Une grande partie de la somme provient du Russell Police Village Trust, et nous ferons des fonds de contrepartie avec eux, et la communauté ensemble. C’est la commu- nauté, le Russell Police Village Trust et le canton qui travaillent ensemble », a déclaré le maire de Russell, Pierre Leroux. « De mon point de vue, chaque fois que la municipalité et les différentes organisations de la com- munauté s’unissent, il va de soi que nous devions participer activement. »
compensation plans. That includes adding $32 million to the $300 million of federal spending already dedicated to programs that assist the dairy industry on production costs. “Milk has to go somewhere,” said Drouin, adding that the St-Albert Cheese Factory is one regional business that could benefit from the new funding provided through the federal budget. “There are also dollars for tourism,” he TBJEi8FIBWFBMPUPG MPDBM CVTJOFTTFT that are dependent on the tourism sector. The 2023 budget includes $130 million through the Federal Development agency 'FE%FW UPTVQQPSUFYJTUJOHBOEOFXUPVSJTN projects. The MP also indicated that the govern- ment negotiated a 27-per-cent reduction in the interchange fees that Visa and Master- card charge small businesses. Drouin said that will help lower the operation costs for many local businesses. Health and dental
performance and financial management. “Overall, we are in a much better financial shape than the U.S.,” Drouin said, “or many other G20 states.” Positive budget items Drouin noted several items in the 2023 budget that will benefit residents and businesses in the Glengarry-Prescott-Riding. They include a one-time increase in the GST SFCBUFUIJTZFBS/JDLOBNFEiUIFHSPDFSZ rebate” because it is meant to help offset the impact inflation has had on the cost of many food items, it means up to $467 in GST rebate for families, $234 for singles, and up to $235 for seniors. “That is a positive measure,” said Drouin. The MP also indicated that the agricul- ture sector will get some help with lowering production costs. The 2023 budget includes plans to reimburse farmers for the tariff they pay for fertilizer for their operations. The federal government is also working with the Dairy Farmers of Ontario on a variety of
LE 125 E ANNIVERSAIRE DE RUSSELL EMBELLIT ET DIVERTIT du programme « Keep Russell Blooming » de l’Institut des femmes du village de Russell. Une partie du financement approuvé servira à étendre le programme à des lotissements plus récents et à remplacer les jardinières en ciment existantes par des jardinières plus modernes. jø/PVTBWPOTQMVTEF présentant la brique rouge de Russell et une couleur contrastante dans un design unique. Trente-quatre plaques seront installées à dix intersections le long de la rue Concession. Un autre projet est l’événement « Meet Me on Main Street », une réplique de l’évé- nement qui a eu lieu à Marionville en juillet
CHRISTOPHER SMITH christopher.smith@eap.on.ca
Plusieurs projets visant à divertir les habitants et à embellir le village de Russell sont prévus pour le 125 e anni- versaire du canton. Le conseil municipal du canton de Russell a approuvé le financement d’une liste de projets présentés par le comité directeur des célébrations du 125 e anniversaire de Russell. Avec l’aide des résidents et des organismes communautaires, le canton verra la réalisation de plusieurs projets de divertissement et d’embellissement, en commençant par l’ornementation de lampes décoratives et de panneaux de signalisation rappelant la fondation de 1898. Quinze panneaux suspendus portant l’inscription « Village of / de Russell 1898 » ont été conçus et seront placés le long de la rue Concession, entre la rue Church et le champ de foire de Russell. Des croix décoratives soutiendront les panneaux, ainsi que des jardinières suspendues provenant
2022. Cet événe- ment a réuni des groupes locaux, des brasseries artisanales et des vendeurs de pro- duits alimentaires qui ont jalonné les rues pendant une soirée. Les détails de l’événement seront décidés dans les mois à venir. &OàO MFEFSOJFSQSPKFUFTUMBSÊOPWBUJPO du parc MacDougall, qui a été construit pour la première fois en juillet 1930 en l’hon- neur du Dr Dugald MacDougall. Le projet de rénovation contribuerait à améliorer l’entrée ouest du village de Russell et comprendrait l’éclairage paysager du pont de pierre et
30 corbeilles suspen- dues au cœur du village et 12 jardinières dans MFTSVFT/PVTDPMMFD - tons des fonds pour payer les fleurs et leur entretien pendant la sai- son estivale », explique
The Township of Russell will see several entertaining and beautifying projects this year as part of its 125th anniversary
l’Institut sur son site web. « Le soutien que nous recevons est un indicateur fantastique du succès et de la popularité de ce projet qui dure depuis plus de 10 ans! » &OPVUSF MFQSPKFUj7JMMBHF4USFFU#MBEFTv permettra de décorer le canton avec des façades bicolores, ornées de l’écusson du village et de la marque 1898. Chaque lame personnalisée fera revivre l’histoire en
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