Listen to episode 3 here.
Tara and Kate sit down with 6 other young people to discuss the highlights of the provincial budget released in March 2018.
Resources:
Budget website: http://budget.ontario.ca/2018/index.html
HIGHLIGHTS:
- free pharmacare and dental care for individuals under the age of 25 and over the age of 65, with up to 80% of expenses refundable for those between 25 and 65 without private coverage
- free childcare for children over the age of two
- $19 billion in hospital spending over 10 years
- $547 million dedicated to repairs to affordable and social housing projects over five years
- $822-million increase in hospital funding in 2018-2019 to reduce wait times
- committed an additional $2.1-billion over four years to mental health and addictions funding
- $16 billion in capital grants to build new schools or improve existing ones
- increase OSAP awards for Indigenous students and low-income students students
- increase minimum wage to $15/hour in January 2019