Federal minister touts last week's budget during stop in Kingston

Steven MacKinnon says several measures are meant to address affordability and homeless plus money for long-awaited LaSalle Causeway replacement.

Kingston got a visit from federal transport minister who was in town to promote the budget.

Steven MacKinnon was at a news conference with Kingston and the Islands MP Mark Gerretsen and Kingston's Mayor-Elect Conny Glenn at Partners in Mission Food Bank on Thursday morning.

Families trying to make ends meet will be getting a boost in the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit.

MacKinnon says these and other measures total $22 billion over five years that his government is committed to address affordability.

Partners in Mission Food Bank Executive Director Dan Irwin says the one-time increase in the benefit hopefully will reduce people's reliance on food banks.

Among the new spending is $261.8 million towards the installation of a new LaSalle Causeway bridge. Gerretsen along with officials from the City of Kingston have been lobbying the federal government for money for a new bridge since the old one was damaged in 2024.

MacKinnon says those efforts may have swayed his government to make a move.

Another measure that Kingston is looking forward to $11.2 billion over four years to eradicate homelessness.

MacKinnon says the aim is to end homelessness within 10 years.

The 2026 federal budget tabled in Parliament last week sees $142.1 billion in new spending and tax measures over the next five years.

Story by Ken Hashizume