NICKEL BELT – GREATER SUDBURY - In anticipation of the upcoming federal budget being release on April 16^th 2024, Marc G. Serré MP for Nickel Belt and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Official Languages is sharing a series of pre-budget initiatives announced so far. The budget outlines several items that can benefit Northern Ontario, that aim to foster economic resilience, offers support to communities, and advances social equity. These underscore the government's ongoing commitment to addressing pressing challenges and building a more prosperous and inclusive future for all citizens.

Measures announced so far include:

• Protecting Renters’ Rights and Unlocking Pathways to Homeownership
  
  
• Launching a new Canadian Renters’ Bill of Rights to protect them from unfair rent hikes, renovictions, and bad landlords.
• Creating a new $15 million Tenant Protection Fund so they don’t have to fight landlords alone.
• Working with banks and financial institutions to help people get credit for on-time rent payments. This will make it easier to qualify for a mortgage, and even for a lower rate.
  
  
• More Affordable Child Care Spaces (Building on $10 a day framework)
  
  
• $1 billion in loans and grants to build more child care spaces.
• Forgiving student loans for early childhood educators in rural and remote areas, we’re incentivizing educators to work in those communities.
• Increasing training for early childhood educators and supporting more research to improve child care.
  
  
• A National School Food Program
  
• Provide meals to about 400,000 kids every year.
  
  
• Building more homes, faster
  
  
• Adding $400 million to the Housing Accelerator Fund – so more towns and cities can cut red tape and build homes you can afford;
• Launching a $6 billion Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund to create the infrastructure we need to build more homes, faster; and,
• Encouraging cities to make it easier to build homes where you need them.

• Unlocking affordable housing and launching Canada Builds
  
  
• Delivering a $15 billion top-up to the Apartment Construction Loan Program to build a minimum of 30,000 new apartments. With this top-up, the program’s financing is on track to build over 131,000 new apartments within the next decade.
• Announcing new reforms to the Apartment Construction Loan Program to increase access to the program and make it easier for builders to build. These reforms include:
• Extending loan terms;
• Extending access to financing to include housing for students and seniors;
• Introducing a portfolio approach to eligibility requirements so builders can move forward on multiple sites at once;
• Providing additional flexibility on affordability, energy efficiency, and accessibility requirements; and
• Launching a new frequent builder stream to fast-track the application process for proven home builders.
• Launching Canada Builds – partnering with provinces and territories to build more rental housing across the country. The federal government is leveraging its $55 billion Apartment Construction Loan Program by making it available to support partnerships
  
  
• Protecting and expanding affordable housing
  
  
• Create a new $1.5 billion Canada Rental Protection Fund – our plan to make the rental market fairer by working with partners to:
• Protect existing rental homes; and,
• Create new affordable rentals.

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, will present Budget 2024 in the House of Commons Tuesday April 16, 2024, at approximately 4:00 p.m.

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“The 2024 budget theme, "Fairness for Every Generation," recognizes the inclusion of varied demographics in federal budget considerations. Pre-budget consultations during the winter actively engaged the public in defining priorities. When speaking to residents, the business community, Indigenous leaders, and municipal government’s it’s clear that priorities vary. However, the underlying consensus is that people want Government’s to work together at all levels to put people first. In recent years, our legislative efforts have focused on affordability, environmental priorities, achieved significant milestones in housing, and supported small businesses and diverse communities. Budget 2024 will continue this progress, and I eagerly anticipate the forthcoming announcements,” – Marc G. Serré, MP for Nickel Belt, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and to the Minister of Official Languages

Quick facts

• Pre-budget consultations were launched on December 12^th, 2023, and were closed on February 9^th
• Constituents can find up to date pre-budget information on MP Serré’s social media pages.

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Contact

Kaylie Dudgeon, Special Assistant
Marc G. Serré, MP for Nickel Belt, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages
705-507-2416