Thanks Karina, thanks Pam, thank you John; hello everyone, thanks for being here with us today.

It’s great to be back in Burlington today, and I’m especially happy to be here at the YMCA, where staff work hard every day to help people upgrade their skills and find new and better jobs. Connecting workers with opportunities is what the YMCA’s Employment Services Program is all about. And it’s what the working income tax benefit is all about too. You see, individuals and families who are working hard to join the middle class shouldn’t have to struggle each month just to make ends meet. That’s where the Working Income Tax Benefit comes in. As a refundable tax credit, it puts more money in the pockets of low-income workers, and gives people a little extra help as they transition to work.

By allowing low-income workers to take home more money when they work, the Working Income Tax Benefit encourages more people to join the workforce and offers real help to nearly one and a half million Canadians working hard to join the middle class. Earlier this week we announced our intention to expand the working income tax benefit program by investing an additional $500 million in the program every year, starting in 2019.

By letting low-income workers take home more money while they work, the Working Income Tax Benefit encourages more people to join the workforce and offers real help to nearly a million and a half Canadians who are working hard to join the middle class. Earlier this week we announced our plans to expand the working income tax benefit program by investing an additional $500 million in the program every year, starting in 2019. That’s more money for working individuals and families to spend on things like groceries, warm winter clothes, and other essentials. We’ll be working closely with the provinces and territories to find the best ways to expand the benefit program and we’ll have more to say about that in the upcoming budget. But one thing is clear; these investments will mean more money for current recipients, and will allow more workers to qualify for this benefit.

This is an investment in Canadians that will help grow our workforce and our economy at the same time. We are able to make this investment in Canadians because, after two years, we have the proof that our plan is working.

Our plan is working; our economy is growing at the fastest rate in the G7 by far. Our investments in Canada, in our communities, and in our people are paying off. We believe that more Canadians deserve to share in that success, and expanding the Working Income Tax Benefit will help make sure that that happens.