Federal budget tour stops in Gander, highlighting affordability measures

The toddlers in attendance didn't seem to mind the visitors as the Crossroads Family Resource Center played host to St. John's area MP Tom Osborne and other government representatives. These young individuals that are here with us today, the caregivers, the parents, we are building a stronger Canada. so that we have a stronger future for these folks. Light on specifics, Osborne highlighted some of the ways the federal government can help Gander, including defense spending and housing initiatives. His visit is one of several speaking engagements MPs are making. We have to be focused, not only on the larger urban centers, but on building communities like Gander stronger, so that people will live in Gander, they want to live and work. Those in attendance took advantage to talk specifics. There's a huge struggle in itself in finding child care. Personally, my son turns one next month. I still don't have child care to be able to return to work, so it's a really big struggle. We have a really great group of staff here that is really dedicated and motivated to make Crossroads everything that Our families need any extra funding or supports from provincial or federal government that we can receive is always super well appreciated. The Family Resource Center in Gander doesn't receive federal funding, but Jordan Pottle has an idea how that can change. I think the first step in that is more funding for wages and more funding for benefits for our staff. Our provincial government has a windfall of $500 million. And I'd like to see more of that earmarked to help support affordability for young families. Young families are choosing to be in Gander. And it's facilities like this providing services to those young families that we're really proud of. MP Tom Osborne will continue his speaking engagements with a talk in Corner Brook tomorrow. Troy Turner, CBC News, Gander.