QUEBEC CITY, Quebec—In an effort to boost support for education and health, Quebec has approved budget increases for these areas in its 2019-2020 budget, according to an announcement by the minister of finance’s office late last month. The 2019-2020 budget makes a major reinvestment in the education and health sectors, totaling $7.3 billion within five years, “to improve student services as well as health care, particularly for seniors, as we promised we would do,” the announcement noted.

FYidoctors | Visique, Canada’s optometrist-owned eyecare company, issued a separate statement on the new Quebec budget in which it “applauded the See for Success program unveiled …. as part of Quebec’s 2019 budget. The new program will see families receive a subsidy of $250 per child every 24 months to cover the cost of eyeglasses or contact lenses for children 17 and under,” the FYidoctors statement noted.

The Quebec finance minister’s announcement noted that the new budget includes $36 million a year to allow for the purchase of eyeglasses and contact lenses for children ages 17 and under, among other benefits. Full details on Quebec’s 2019 2020 budget can be found here.

“We are delighted to see the provincial government place an emphasis on health and social services with this year’s budget – particularly as it relates to eyecare,” FYidoctors chairman and chief executive Dr. Alan Ulsifer said in the FYidoctors announcement. “According to the Canadian Association of Optometrists, over 25 percent of school-age children have vision problems. Providing financial assistance to offset the costs associated with proper eyecare is a great first step to addressing this issue,” he added.

FYidoctors | Visique, in recognition of the fact that vision is an integral component of a child’s education, has provided support to Canadians through its “Better Sights. Better Grades.” program since 2014, according to its statement. Through the Better Sight. Better Grades. program, FYidoctors | Visique optometrists and staff work with local schools and community organizations to identify children (13 years or younger) who may be having vision problems and who could potentially need corrective lenses, but whose families may not have the means to afford them. In the last 14 months, FYidoctors | Visique has provided 418 children with a pair of glasses and donated $212,815 worth of eyewear.

Although the provincial government has stated that their program will commence in September, FYidoctors | Visique said it will continue to donate $5 from every purchase of children’s eyewear towards the Better Sights. Better Grades. program and help more children across the country.