Skeena–Bulkley Valley MP Taylor Bachrach reacted to the federal budget today, noting big wins for dental care and Indigenous housing. However, how exactly these plans will be rolled out remains to be seen.

“With the cost of living rising, we continue to focus on using our power in Parliament to help people. That’s why I’m so pleased to see meaningful commitments in the budget that will improve people’s lives in our region,” Bachrach said in a press release.

The budget includes $5.3 billion over five years to implement a national dental care plan, which will cover families with incomes less than $90,000 who don’t have private insurance.

The program starts in 2022 with kids under 12-year-old and will expand in 2023 to those under 18, seniors and people with disabilities and will be fully implemented by 2025 before the next federal election.

On housing, the budget includes measures to increase affordable housing units across the country, with $1.5 billion for the Rapid Housing Initiative, a two-year ban on foreign buyers and $4.3 billion for Indigenous housing.

However, Conservative Party critics say not one unit will be built this year, as the national average house price in Canada topped $800,000 as of March 2022.