As we celebrate the holiday season, Oakville MP Anita Anand is shining a light on what truly matters. As a steadfast advocate for the well-being of Oakville’s residents, MP Anand supports the government’s commitment to implement thoughtful policies that help ease financial pressures and help families thrive. MP Anand says, “The holiday season is about community, compassion, and connection and our government has initiated programs designed to lift people up. I’m committed to ensuring that families feel supported and valued.”
Supporting families and seniors
The federal government initiatives, like the $10-a-day child care program and enhancements to Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement, are making life more manageable for families and seniors alike.
For families, $10-a-day child care allows parents to re-enter the workforce without having to worry about sky-high daycare costs, while increases to OAD and GIS are helping seniors cover the costs of essential expenses.
For families in Oakville and across Canada, the Canada Child Tax Benefit provides monthly tax-free payments to help parents cover the costs of raising their children. MP Anand says, “To date, the program has lifted more than 600,000 children out of poverty and given that the holidays can be financially stressful, the CCTB eases the financial strain.”
Adding to the relief, is the Canadian Dental Care Plan which covers seniors over the age of 64, children under the age of 18 and lower- income adults, while the Pharmacare Program ensures that the more than 3 million Canadians with diabetes don’t have to worry about covering the costs of medications.
Supporting Oakville businesses
MP Anand has an unwavering commitment to strategic investment in the local economy. She says, “Our government has invested over $378,000 across downtown Oakville, Bronte, and Kerr Village to enhance business growth and the vibrancy of the community. We want to ensure that our local business districts are more than shopping destinations, they’re also vital community hubs.” The funding includes,
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$263,000 in funding grants to businesses to build capacity and growth and to Business Improvement Association projects that bring more customers to the business area
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$115,000 to businesses to hire summer students through the Canada Summer Jobs program
The government has also offered $55.7 million in fully repayable low-interest loans to build 131 purpose-built rentals on Old Bronte Road Oakville.
Oakville businesses are also benefitting from the government’s commitment to the Green Economy. By investing in electric buses, modern bus shelters, accessibility ramps, and charging stations, the government is steering the community toward a cleaner, more sustainable future and creating opportunities for local businesses to thrive. MP Anand says, “The Green Economy matters to the residents of Oakville. Unlike the Conservatives who do not have a plan for the environment and deny that climate change exists, we have a solid plan for the environment and reaching net zero by 2050.”
Importance of giving back
For MP Anita Anand, giving back to her community is a value deeply rooted in her upbringing. Her mother would often say to their three girls, “Your community needs you”, instilling in them the power of service and the importance of making a difference.
As a law professor, MP Anand found fulfillment in shaping the minds of hundreds of students by giving them the knowledge to navigate the complex legal system. She says, “I then felt a calling to serve on a broader scale and when I was asked to run for public office, I said to myself, maybe I can give back in a different and heightened way.”
The community of Oakville gave her solid support when she was first elected in 2019, as did the Prime Minister when he appointed her to cabinet. As Minister of Public Procurement, MP Anand led Canada’s vaccine procurement at the height of the pandemic, which saved tens of thousands of lives. As Minister of National Defence, she worked to bolster Canada’s military status amid broad criticism. MP Anita Anand has also served as President of the Treasury Board. She was recently sworn in as Minister of Transport and Internal Trade. She says, “I feel very grateful that I can serve our country in multiple ways, as a member of parliament and cabinet minister and as someone who truly cares about Oakville.”
As a teenager, Anita Anand was elected Student Council President at both her Junior and Senior High Schools. She was editor of the school newspaper and in university she volunteered at the local hospital. She says, “I was always looking for a way to be involved in the community.”
Later, when she was raising four children in Oakville, MP Anand was a volunteer board member for the Lighthouse for Grieving Children and the Oakville Trafalgar Hospital Foundation. She says, “I’ve always tried to live up to the commitment of giving back to my community. That’s one of the most rewarding aspects of politics. Elected office allows me to serve people and communities in need and building a strong community is one of the most important goals.”
MP Anita Anand’s empathy, genuine care, and steadfast dedication to serving her community truly reflects the spirit of the holiday season.
Contact MP Anita Anand at (905) 338-2008; Email: [email protected] or visit: https://mpanitaanand.ca