Tracy MacCharles, MPP
Pickering-Scarborough East
Well, we certainly had a unique summer this year. Even with the record rainfall and days of extreme humidity, Ontarians enjoyed one of the biggest events in this country’s history with the 150th birthdays of both Canada and Ontario. Throughout the summer, events across the province and country allowed everyone to gather together in order to celebrate the long, proud history of our nation. Through our annual Canada Day BBQ, as well as many other events, Ontarians demonstrated that they are very proud to live in this great province and country. Our Canadian pride was strongly on display.
As our summer comes to an end, many students are getting ready to go back to school. With this in mind, it is my pleasure to highlight two programs the Ontario government has recently introduced. Beginning January 1, 2018, as part of the 2017 Budget, all Ontario residents under the age of 25 will be eligible to receive prescription medications free of charge through the OHIP+ program. The proposed new program will improve access to prescription medications for more than four million children and young people, and will help many families afford the medications their children need to stay healthy.
Beginning this semester, the new Ontario Student Assistance Program will be making tuition free for more than 210,000 young and mature students. The new OSAP will help more students pursue higher education based on their ability to learn and not on their ability to pay. The Ontario government is committed to opening up exciting possibilities for eligible students who are pursuing a higher education.
More information on OHIP+ can be found at:h
ttps://www.ontario.ca/page/2017-budget-brief-strengthening-health-care.
More information regarding the new OSAP program can be found at:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/osap-ontario-student-assistance-program.
As always, my staff and I are here to support you by answering your questions and resolving issues related to provincial government services. Please do not hesitate to contact my Constituency Office. You may stop by in person at 300 Kingston Road, Pickering, Unit 7, call us at 905-509-0336, or send me an email at tmaccharles.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org. If you would like to receive our quarterly e-newsletter, please send your email to the above address with the subject line “e-newsletter”. You may also subscribe online in the “News” section of my website: http://tracymaccharles.onmpp.ca. I look forward to hearing from you soon.