Premier Wade MacLauchlan today reacted positively to Minister Bill Morneau’s first budget “Growing the Middle Class.”

“I have appreciated our exchanges with the Prime Minister and the federal government over the past several months on the issues of importance to Canadians and Prince Edward Islanders and see in this budget a direction that supports strong collaboration on the shared priorities of our governments.”

The 2016 Budget contains significant new investments which will benefit the people of Prince Edward Island:

• Increased support for social programming, including for child benefits, employment support, First Nations, students, youth, seniors and veterans
• Clear commitments on strategic infrastructure, including waste and wastewater, social housing and transportation infrastructure
• Emphasis on prosperity, particularly for education and workforce preparation and integration.

“The commitment from the Government of Canada is critical to our ability as a province to prosper. Our conversations with the Prime Minister, his senior Ministers and our Members of Parliament to date have been productive. I look forward to working with our federal colleagues on the ongoing challenges which face Prince Edward Island including population and workforce development, aging demographics and health care costs.”