For union, NDP and labour reps, the headline for the budget is unquestionably around housing.
The Liberals’ new Canada Housing Plan pledges to “unlock” almost four million homes by 2031, at a cost of almost $9 billion over the next five years.
The Federation of Labour’s Jessica McCormick was among a group gathered at Public Service Alliance of Canada offices in downtown St. John’s to watch the federal budget speech live.
She had also hoped for “modernization” of employment insurance rules, highlighted during last year’s delayed crab fishery.
But she noted big money for housing was a must-have now.
“We hear it from workers all the time. It’s more difficult to find affordable rental housing and for a lot of people buying their first home is further and further out of reach,” she said. “So measures that will protect renters are very important, but we need more affordable housing built in this country, including in Newfoundland and Labrador, so substantial investments in housing are good news.”
There has been criticism of nearly $53 billion in new spending, adding to overall debt.
But federal NDP president Mary Shortall has another word for it.
“It’s not spending issues that are the problem,” she said. “What the government needs to do is invest in the services that will help people. They collected more income tax than ever—and when people spend money that’s an investment in the economy.”
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he has not decided yet whether his party will support the budget.
He says the Liberals aren’t going far enough to address what he calls corporate greed, leading to the high cost of living.