Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill candidates pledge to make life more affordable

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 24, 2015
By Teresa Latchford

Federal election candidates pledge to help make life a little more affordable for local families.

From 2012 to 2013, the average Ontario household expenditures increased by $3,772, from $78,495 to $82,267 in 2013, according to Statistics Canada.

In one year, your food bill increased an average of $378, the cost of shelter by $951, household operations by $312 and income tax by $578.

However, the average household income in the province only increased by $1,620 over the same period.

Conservative candidate Costas Menegakis feels family credits and enhancements his party has provided while in power and those proposed in the party platform will go a long way to helping families.

“I’m a firm believer in leaving more money in the hands of those who know what’s best for their family; mom and dad,” he said. “We want families to have more disposable income to be able to do what they want to do.”

York Region residents enjoy the lowest federal tax burden in 50 years, thanks to the leadership of the Conservative government, he said, adding the party, if re-elected, intends to keep taxes low and cut payroll taxes by more than 20 per cent in 2017 - so workers can take home more money.

In 2006, the Conservatives introduced the universal child care benefit. This year, the benefit for children six years and younger was increased from $100 to $160 per month and a new benefit was created for children six to 17, Menegakis said.

The children’s fitness tax credit also supports families with children who participate in physical activities.

The party also plans to reintroduce the retrofit program, which will help families complete home renovations such as replacing windows, doors and roofs.

“Basically, our plan leaves an extra $6,500 in York Region families’ pockets a year,” he added.

Liberal Party candidate Leona Alleslev said no party is more focused on making life more affordable for residents of the riding than the Liberals. By decreasing income taxes for the middle class and helping communities with a $60-billion injection for infrastructure over the next decade, her party will invest in families, she said.

A third of the funding bump would be invested in public transit, which would help make transportation more accessible and affordable in York Region.

Another $20 billion would be earmarked for social infrastructure, meaning more quality daycare spaces and affordable housing.

“There is a huge lack of affordable housing in York Region,” Alleslev said. “This funding would help us create incentives for developers to provide the housing that is so desperately needed for families that are just starting out.”

The remaining $20 billion will be invested in green infrastructure technology.

The funding is intended to help attract companies to locate in York Region, in turn creating well-paying, high-skilled jobs and having a positive impact on the economy, since local families will have more money in their pocket to spend locally.

NDP candidate Brenda Power did not respond prior to press time.