Budget 2019 Highlights

Tom Osborne, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, released Budget 2019 on Tuesday.

Here are the highlights...

• $7.1 million under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership;

• $2.25 million under the Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program, including $100,000 to launch the Community Gardens Support Program; and,

• $1 million under the Provincial Agriculture Research and Development Program.

• $3.66 million for silviculture and research into reforestation and forest improvement;

• $3.42 million for the Fire Suppression Program to protect forests from uncontrolled forest fires; and,

• $900,800 for the Insect Control Program to monitor and evaluate forest insect and disease conditions.

• Allocated $4 million for the Film Equity Program, which doubled in 2017; And,

• Renewed the Newfoundland and Labrador Film and Video Industry Tax Credit until 2021.

• $15 million for vessel refits and maintenance of ferries, terminals, and wharves.

• $17.6 million for construction of long-term care homes in Corner Brook, Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor.

• $9.1 million to continue the construction of the Green Bay Health Centre in Springdale;

• $8.9 million has been allocated to advance construction of the new adult mental health and addictions facility;

• $8.6 million to support ongoing development of the new electrical substation at the Health Sciences Centre;

• $6.9 million for the construction of a new hospital in Corner Brook, which will begin this year; and,

• $5.5 million to begin construction of the 20-bed expansion of the protective care unit at the Dr. Hugh Twomey Health Centre in Botwood.

• $13 million for the construction of a new Paradise intermediate school;

• $10.1 million for the reconstruction of Gander Academy;

• $8.8 million to begin construction on a school to replace Coley’s Point Elementary; and,

• $7.3 million to build a new school in St. Alban’s to replace Bay d’Espoir Academy.

• Approximately $13 million committed for employment and training programs;

• $6.1 million will support youth in employment and career related activities;

• Approximately $700,000 is allocated to build capacity and provide more flexible training in the province’s apprenticeship system by increasing offerings in an online format;

• And, $161 million is available for investment through the Labour Market Transfer Agreement, which will help people prepare for, find, and maintain employment.

• $87 million to fund College of the North Atlantic and its 17 campuses; and

• $78.2 million to maintain tuition levels for Newfoundland and Labrador students, including an additional $4 million to Memorial University and $1.1 million to College of the North Atlantic.