Some mixed feelings about the federal budget from the Ford government.
Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy (beth-len-FALL-vee) is encouraged by federal support for the electric vehicle supply chain.
“We are encouraged that the budget recognized the importance of Canada’s end-to-end electric vehicle battery supply chain and the benefits it will bring to remote, Northern and Indigenous communities, including through the new electric vehicle supply chain investment tax credit,” says Bethlenfalvy in a statement.
Bethlenfalvy hopes it leads to the federal government matching the more than $1 billion the province has allocated to building an all-season road to the Ring of Fire.
He also welcomes the funding for housing, saying it responds to Ontario’s requests for more housing-enabling infrastructure funding.
“We look forward to working with our federal partners and municipalities to ensure that this funding supports our shared goal of building homes for people to own that also reflects unique needs of local municipalities”
Bethlenfalvy is disappointed the federal carbon tax remains in place.
He says it was a missed opportunity to scrap a tax that is making everything more expensive.
“Our government continues to urge the federal government to put more money back into peoples’ pockets by eliminating the carbon tax once and for all, particularly at a time when it is contributing to high inflation.”
Bethlenfalvy was also hoping for federal funding to support the expansion of Go train service in southern Ontario.
