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By MPP Toby Barrett<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It is heartening to see the remarkable resilience the economy is showing both locally and provincially. The job market has rebounded much more quickly than most forecasters had predicted. Last Spring, Ontario lost one million jobs. Over the past 10 months, our province has achieved a net employment gain of just over one million jobs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As well, over the past year, we have provided far-reaching support to help businesses get through. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Ontario Small Business Support Grant is lending a helping hand to businesses with less than 100 employees that have been required to close or significantly reduce their services due to the province-wide shutdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through the Main Street Relief Grant, we are providing small businesses with up to $1,000 each to reimburse them fro PPE costs incurred in order to operate safely during the pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Through the Digital Main Street program, we are helping small businesses get online, expand their digital footprint and connect with new customers. Our government worked quickly to make temporary regulatory and rule changes that would help people and businesses during the pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To assist individuals and families soldier through some of the financial challenges, the Ontario government has introduced several tax credits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One example is our Jobs Training Tax Credit — a refundable personal income tax credit that returns 50 per cent of eligible training expenses for 2021, up to $2,000. Expenses that apply include everything from personal support worker training programs to heavy machinery training programs, to courses towards a degree, diploma, or certificate and much more. In combination with the federal government\u2019s Canada Training Credit, applicants can receive up to $2,500 back next year for such training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Seniors Home Safety Tax Credit has been extended for 2022 and is a refundable personal income tax credit for people who turn 65 by the end of 2022. Those who live with a senior relative may also apply for this tax credit. It returns 25 per cent of up to $10,000 in eligible expenses — up to a maximum of $2,500 — for renovations to a senior\u2019s principal residence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We are also providing a one-time top-up for recipients of the Childcare Access and Relief from Expenses (CARE) credit. The top-up is 20 per cent of their 2021 credit entitlements. This will increase 2021 CARE support for over 300,000 recipients from about $1,250 to $1,500. Introduced in 2019, the CARE tax credit provides Ontario families with flexible childcare support of up to 75 per cent of eligible childcare expenses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the new tax credits introduced in the spring budget, you may be able to tap into other long-standing tax credits. For a list of all Ontario Government tax credits and incentives, please visit https:\/\/www.fin.gov.on.ca\/en\/credit\/ <\/p>\n\n\n\n As a long-time Mike Harris Common Sense Revolutionary, I maintain public finance policy can do well in following the mantra of \u2018tax cuts create jobs.\u2019 We have recreated those one million jobs over the past year and have implemented a package of business-friendly grants and red tape cuts. This will better enable job creators to get through these times \u2013 for the benefit of us all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Toby Barrett is the MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A year of boosting our economic well-being <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n By MPP Toby Barrett<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It is heartening to see the remarkable resilience the economy is showing both locally and provincially. The job market has rebounded much more quickly than most forecasters had predicted. Last Spring, Ontario lost one million jobs. Over the past 10 months, our province has achieved a net employment gain of just over one million jobs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As well, over the past year, we have provided far-reaching support to help businesses get through. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Ontario Small Business Support Grant is lending a helping hand to businesses with less than 100 employees that have been required to close or significantly reduce their services due to the province-wide shutdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through the Main Street Relief Grant, we are providing small businesses with up to $1,000 each to reimburse them fro PPE costs incurred in order to operate safely during the pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Through the Digital Main Street program, we are helping small businesses get online, expand their digital footprint and connect with new customers. Our government worked quickly to make temporary regulatory and rule changes that would help people and businesses during the pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To assist individuals and families soldier through some of the financial challenges, the Ontario government has introduced several tax credits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One example is our Jobs Training Tax Credit — a refundable personal income tax credit that returns 50 per cent of eligible training expenses for 2021, up to $2,000. Expenses that apply include everything from personal support worker training programs to heavy machinery training programs, to courses towards a degree, diploma, or certificate and much more. In combination with the federal government\u2019s Canada Training Credit, applicants can receive up to $2,500 back next year for such training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Seniors Home Safety Tax Credit has been extended for 2022 and is a refundable personal income tax credit for people who turn 65 by the end of 2022. Those who live with a senior relative may also apply for this tax credit. It returns 25 per cent of up to $10,000 in eligible expenses — up to a maximum of $2,500 — for renovations to a senior\u2019s principal residence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We are also providing a one-time top-up for recipients of the Childcare Access and Relief from Expenses (CARE) credit. The top-up is 20 per cent of their 2021 credit entitlements. This will increase 2021 CARE support for over 300,000 recipients from about $1,250 to $1,500. Introduced in 2019, the CARE tax credit provides Ontario families with flexible childcare support of up to 75 per cent of eligible childcare expenses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the new tax credits introduced in the spring budget, you may be able to tap into other long-standing tax credits. For a list of all Ontario Government tax credits and incentives, please visit https:\/\/www.fin.gov.on.ca\/en\/credit\/ <\/p>\n\n\n\n As a long-time Mike Harris Common Sense Revolutionary, I maintain public finance policy can do well in following the mantra of \u2018tax cuts create jobs.\u2019 We have recreated those one million jobs over the past year and have implemented a package of business-friendly grants and red tape cuts. This will better enable job creators to get through these times \u2013 for the benefit of us all.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAt the end of March, the Ontario Government released its Budget 2021 Ontario\u2019s Action Plan: Protecting People\u2019s Health and Our Economy, <\/em>highlighting many tax credits. The Budget recognizes and incorporates the needs of job seekers and seniors by offering a helping hand.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
At the end of March, the Ontario Government released its Budget 2021 Ontario\u2019s Action Plan: Protecting People\u2019s Health and Our Economy, <\/em>highlighting many tax credits. The Budget recognizes and incorporates the needs of job seekers and seniors by offering a helping hand.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n