EDMONTON, AB, April 23,
2024 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada recently delivered Budget 2024:
Fairness for Every Generation.
It is a plan to build a Canada
that works better for everyone, where younger generations can get
ahead, where their hard work pays off and where they can buy a
home—where everyone has a fair chance at a good middle-class
life.
Today the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and
Official Languages, Randy
Boissonnault, met with Aksis in Edmonton to highlight Budget 2024's
investments that contribute towards a fair future for Indigenous
Peoples, including:
- Unlocking pathways to post-secondary education by
investing nearly $243 million for the
next generation of First Nations university, college and
post-secondary students, building on the $487.5 million over ten years invested in Inuit
and Métis post-secondary education strategies through Budget
2019.
- Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program, which will offer up
to $5 billion in loan guarantees to
unlock access to capital for Indigenous communities, enabling them
to share in the benefits of natural resource and energy projects in
their territories and on their own terms.
- Indigenous Housing and Community Infrastructure
investments of $918 million beyond
the $5 billion already available for
communities in 2024-25, to accelerate work to narrow housing and
infrastructure gaps in First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities
as follows:
- $426 million for First Nations on
reserve;
- $62 million for self-governing
and modern treaty First Nations;
- $370 million for Inuit
communities; and
- $60 million for Métis
communities.
Budget 2024 is a plan to deliver fairness for every
generation.
First, the budget takes bold action to build more homes.
Because the best way to make home prices more affordable is to
increase supply—and quickly. It lays out a strategy to unlock 3.87
million new homes by 2031. Key measures include launching the new
Public Lands for Homes Plan and Canada Rental Protection Fund,
enhancing the Canadian Mortgage Charter and creating a new Canadian
Renters' Bill of Rights.
Second, it will help make life cost less. The budget
builds on the Government's transformative expansion of Canada's social safety net—$10-a-day child
care, dental care for uninsured Canadians and the first phase of
universal pharmacare—and advances the Government's work to lower
everyday costs for Canadians. This includes helping to stabilize
the cost of groceries, cracking down on junk fees and lowering the
costs of banking. Budget 2024 also makes transformative new
investments, including a National School Food Program and the
Canada Disability Benefit.
Third, this year's budget will grow the economy in a way
that's shared by all. The Government's plan will increase
investment, enhance productivity, and encourage innovation. It will
create well-paying and meaningful jobs, keep Canada at the economic forefront and deliver
new support to empower more of our best entrepreneurs and
innovators. This includes attracting more investment in the
net-zero economy by expanding and delivering the major economic
investment tax credits, securing Canada's advantage as a leader in artificial
intelligence and investing in enhanced research grants that will
provide younger generations with good jobs and new opportunities.
And it means ensuring Indigenous Peoples share in this growth in a
way that works for them.
Budget 2024 will also make Canada's tax system fairer by asking the
wealthiest to pay a bit more—so that the Government can invest in
prosperity for every generation, and because it would be
irresponsible and unfair to pass on more debt to the next
generations. Budget 2024 is a responsible economic plan that
upholds the fiscal objectives outlined in the 2023 Fall Economic
Statement, and sees Canada
maintain the lowest deficit- and net debt-to-GDP ratios in the
G7.
With Budget 2024, the Government of Canada continues to support Indigenous
reconciliation through the recognition of rights, respect and
partnerships. True reconciliation brings with it the opportunity
for all people in Canada to know
ourselves and our collective histories better.
Quotes
"Our government first came to office with a vow to strengthen
and expand the middle class. We delivered on that pledge by
reducing poverty, especially for children and seniors, and creating
millions of good jobs for Canadians. Our work isn't done. Budget
2024 renews our focus on unlocking the door to the middle class for
millions of younger Canadians. We'll build more housing and help
make life cost less. We will drive our economy toward growth that
lifts everyone up. That is fairness for every generation."
– The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Finance
"Through Budget 2024, we are working with Indigenous communities
to unlock pathways to education, ensuring access to capital and
accelerating housing and infrastructure projects. Meaningful
reconciliation and partnership involves taking concrete steps
towards a more inclusive and prosperous future for Indigenous
Peoples. Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient
Canada for generations to
come."
– The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment,
Workforce Development and Official Languages
Related products
- Budget 2024: Fairness for Every Generation
- Budget 2024: Address by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
of Finance
- Budget 2024: Key Measures (available in non-official
languages)
- Backgrounder: A Fair Future for Indigenous Peoples
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SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada