Federal budget tabled, deficit to continue for foreseeable future

The federal budget will aim to help Canadians struggling with high prices and inflation.

A targeted grocery rebate will see low-income residents receive a one-time payment on their GST rebate cheque.

Single people with no children will receive $234, families of four will get $467 and seniors can expect $225.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland also unveiled a plan to reform the Criminal Code to limit the interest predatory lenders can charge on services like payday loans.

Details were also revealed on the dental-care plan which will provide dental care to uninsured Canadians with a family income of less than $90,000 annually.

This year’s budget comes in with a much higher deficit, $43 billion, than the $36.4 billion previously forecasted.

Slower economic growth and lower government revenues are being blamed with the budget projecting that there will still be a $14 billion deficit on the books in five years.

That’s a reversal from last fall’s projection that the budget would be balanced by 2027-28.

***With files from Wendy Gray

Continue Reading

You may also like



cjcd Now playing play

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

Testing shows elevated lead in water at more Fort Smith buildings

A number of municipal buildings in Fort Smith show elevated levels of lead in water, according to initial testing results announced on Friday. It is unclear how many buildings are affected but offiicals said more information would be made public in the coming days. “We would like to inform residents that recent water testing at Town facilities has found lead levels that require follow-up and action,” read a message posted by officials on the town’s site.

GNWT says 3 more school buildings show elevated lead in water

The territorial government says another three school sites showed elevated levels of lead in drinking water after testing earlier this month. With 32 tested school results announced to date, 26 have tested positive for elevated levels of lead in some of their drinking water fixtures.

New smoking cessation program launched at Stanton Territorial Hospital

The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority has announced the launch of the Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation at Stanton Territorial Hospital. The program aims to help smokers get care while in hospital, and afterwards.  

YWCA doubles down on multi-use daycare and housing space near BP

YWCA NWT is in the planning phases for a new multi-purpose space that would include more than 20 family-sized affordable housing units, along with affordable daycare. Alayna Ward with the YWCA said the new facility is planned to be similar to Gotı̨ li Kǫ̀ in Yellowknife, a multi-use facility with family housing units the YWCA opened in 2023. The organization wants to build the proposed multi-use facility on the lot by Boston Pizza where the daycare was planned to open this spring.

Federal investment in NWT food security announced

Northwest Territories Member of Parliament Rebecca Alty highlighted an investment of over $95,000 into three organizations in the NWT under the Local Food Infrastructure Fund.