Newsletter - Mar. 31, 2023
On Tuesday, March 28, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tabled Budget 2023, our next steps in our plan to make life affordable, strengthen our universal public health care and grow our economy.
We are investing in Canadians and putting money back in the pockets of Oakville families by:
Implementing a new Grocery Rebate
Cracking down on hidden junk fees and predatory lending
Lowering transaction fees for small businesses
Providing increased financial support to Students.
One thing I have heard often when I speak with Oakville residents is how much they care about our public health care. That is whywe are strengthening our universal public health care system by:
Delivering an additional $198.3 billion to provinces and territories to reduce backlogs and expand access to family health services.
Introducing a new Canadian Dental Care Plan that will benefit up to nine million Canadians.
We’re also making transformative investments to build Canada’s clean economy, fight climate change andcreate new opportunities for businesses & workers in Oakville, including:
New tax credits for clean technology manufacturing and electricity.
Securing major battery manufacturing in Canada
Launching the Canada Growth Fund
Oakville is going to be at the heart of this future economy. These measures build on our $295 million investment in the Oakville Ford Plant. Since 2020, Ontario alone has attracted over $17 billion in new investments in our auto sector. We want to attract more investments like these here in Canada.
Thanks to a responsible fiscal plan, Canada has a triple-A credit rating, the strongest economic growth in the G7 this year, and the lowest net debt- and deficit-to-GDP ratios in the G7. While there is still global economic uncertainty, we will continue to be fiscally prudent and be there for people as we build a competitive economy that works for Oakville, and all Canadians.
President Biden's Visit to Canada
Last week, I met with President Biden in Ottawa. Canada and the United States share a deep sense of friendship, history, and common values. Our ongoing cooperation on trade, security, and the environment reflects a strong commitment to making life better for people on both sides of our shared border.
While President Biden was in Ottawa, Prime Minister Trudeau made a series of new announcements, including:
Increasing investments to up to $250 million in the Canadian semiconductor industry.
Addressing irregular migration by expanding the Safe Third Country Agreement to unofficial ports of entry.
Investing $420 million in protecting and restoring the iconic Great Lakes.
Investing $100 million in additional equipment and support for the Haitian National Police to support peace and security in Haiti.
Investing $7.3 billion in infrastructure to support the arrival of our F-35 fighter jets, from our $38.6 billion NORAD modernization plan, and confirming Southern Ontario will be the location for one of Canada’s early warning and threat tracking systems.
Canada and the United States are steadfast partners. We will continue working closely together to make life more affordable, create good jobs, protect the environment, and promote peace and security in our countries and worldwide.
Making Life More Affordable
In Oakville and across Canada, I know that families are feeling the pinch at the grocery store. Through a new Grocery Rebate, we are delivering targeted inflation relief for 11 million Canadians and families who need it most, with up to an extra $467 for eligible couples with children; an extra $234 for single Canadians without children; and an extra $225 for seniors.
Unexpected, hidden, and additional fees add up quickly. From internet overage charges, to roaming fees, to event fees, Canadians deal with junk fees every day. That's why we are taking action to crack down on junk fees, to continue to ensure businesses are transparent with prices.
Starting April 1st, financial institutions will be able to start offering the Tax-Free First Home Savings Account to Canadians. Combining the features of both an RRSP and a TFSA, this plan will allow young Canadians to set aside 100% of every dollar they earn up to $40,000 and shorten the time it takes to afford a down payment.
Over 750,000 post-secondary students rely on federal assistance each year to help them afford the cost of tuition, housing, and everyday essentials. To make the transition from school to working life easier, we are:
Increasing Canada Student Grants by 40 per cent—providing up to $4,200 for full-time students.
Raising the interest-free Canada Student Loan limit from $210 to $300 per week of study.
We will increase limits on certain RESP withdrawals from $5,000 to $8,000 for full-time students, and from $2,500 to $4,000 for part-time students.
We will continue to take strong action to bring down the cost of living for Canadians.
You can read more about these new actions in our budget here: Chapter 1: Making Life More Affordable and Supporting the Middle Class | Budget 2023 (canada.ca)
Strengthening our Public Health Care System
To strengthen Canada’s universal public health care system, Budget 2023 delivers $198.3 billion to reduce backlogs, expand access to family health services, and ensure provinces and territories can provide the high quality and timely health care Canadians expect and deserve.
We are also introducing a new Canadian Dental Care Plan to benefit up to nine million Canadians and ensure that no Canadian has to choose between taking care of their health and paying the bills at the end of the month. The plan will provide dental coverage for uninsured Canadians with annual family income of less than $90,000, with no co-pays for those with family incomes under $70,000.
The plan would begin providing coverage by the end of 2023 and will be administered by Health Canada, with support from a third-party benefits administrator. Details on eligible coverage will be released later this year.
Growing our Green Economy
Budget 2023 makes transformative investments to build Canada’s clean economy, fight climate change, and create new opportunities for Canadian businesses and Canadian workers. This includes significant measures that will deliver cleaner and more affordable energy, support investment in our communities and the creation of good-paying jobs, and ensure that Canadian workers are able to produce and provide the goods and resources that Canadians and our allies need.
You can read our comprehensive plan here: Chapter 3: A Made-In-Canada Plan: Affordable Energy, Good Jobs, and a Growing Clean Economy | Budget 2023
Tirgan Festival
Earlier this week, I was pleased to join thousands of people gathered to celebrate Nowruz and to stand in solidarity with the people of Iran at Tirgan Festival’s For Iran event.
Woman. Life. Freedom.
Zan. Zendegi. Azadi.
New Sanctions Against the Iranian Regime
On March 27th, Canada announced its 10th package of Sanctions against the Iranian Regime since October of 2022.
Canada will continue to use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to respond to the Iranian regime’s ongoing human rights violations.
Read more: Canada imposes new sanctions against Iranian regime - Canada.ca
Celebrating the New Horizons for Seniors Program
Our communities are enriched when we bring generations together. Through the New Horizons for Seniors Program, the Oakville Chinese Network received funding for a Seniors and Youth Arts & Crafts project. I was thrilled join them to celebrate this initiative's positive impact on our community.
Ramadan Mubarak!
In Oakville and around the world, Muslims have embarked on a month-long holy journey of fasting & prayer to encourage spiritual growth & reflection. Let us take this time to recommit to fighting Islamophobia in all its forms.