By Hon. Lena Metlege Diab, Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament, I’m entering a particularly busy time in Ottawa, as we debate this year’s budget and advance key legislation in the final seven weeks of our first sitting of 2024. I’m looking forward to graduation season next month, and getting the chance to spend more time in our community over the summer. To all mothers and grandmothers, I also want to wish you a very happy Mother’s Day!
New Supports for Students & Youth
This year’s federal budget centres around one broad goal: ensuring fairness for all generations. That fairness must include more support for students and young people, who had a difficult time during the pandemic and need our help to succeed. That’s why we’re launching a new national school food program that will give parents a break and let kids focus on learning by providing 400,000 more meals—every year— to students across the country. We’re also putting $500 million into a new Youth Mental Health Fund to ensure more services are available to young people when they’re struggling. Together, these investments will help young Canadians enjoy a happier, healthier start to their lives— equipping them to reach their full potential.
More Child Care Spaces in Halifax West
Over the next few years, our government’s child care agreement with Nova Scotia will create some 9,500 new child care spaces across the province—responding to a very real need that I hear about from parents all the time. This month, we’ve already announced 75 new spaces, as the It Takes A Village Child Care Centre opens a new centre on Hammonds Plains Road with support from the federal government. This is great news for families, and we’re nowhere near done yet. Stay tuned to my social media this month as I share news of even more spaces coming to Halifax West.
Canadian Dental Care Plan Begins
This month, the first one million seniors who successfully applied for the Canadian Dental Care Plan and have a May coverage start date can begin receiving dental care! This is a major milestone in this brand new program, and I’m excited that dental care will soon be more affordable for people in our community. What’s more, potentially eligible Canadians aged 65 and over can now apply for the CDCP online, and they will receive their welcome package from SunLife shortly thereafter. Visit Canada.ca/ dental for more information.
Thank you for your continued support!
