Newsletter - june. 17, 2022
Just over two years ago, we were in the throes of the deepest recession since the Great Depression. Today, jobs are plentiful and business is booming, but it is also harder for many Canadians to pay their bills at the end of the month. Inflation is a global phenomenon—one driven by factors that no single country is responsible for, and that no single country can insulate itself from or solve on its own.
Our government has a plan that includes real and tangible steps to help make life more affordable for Canadians. Yesterday, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, highlighted our Affordability Plan—a suite of measures totaling $8.9 billion in new support this year to help make life more affordable for millions of Canadians.
Our Affordability Plan includes:
Enhancing the Canada Workers Benefit—at a cost of $1.7 billion in new support for workers this year—to put up to $2,400 more into the pockets of low-income families starting this year;
A ten per cent increase to Old Age Security for seniors over 75, which will provide up to $766 more for more than three million seniors starting next month;
A $500 payment this year to nearly one million Canadian renters who are struggling with the cost of housing;
Cutting child care fees by an average of 50 per cent by the end of this year in every province and territory, and making child care more accessible in Quebec by helping to create 37,000 more spaces;
Dental care for Canadians earning less than $90,000, starting with hundreds of thousands under 12 this year; and,
The indexation of benefits including the Canada Child Benefit, the GST Credit, the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, and the Guaranteed Income Supplement. The federal minimum wage, which we increased to $15/hour, is also indexed to inflation.
Visit to NORAD Headquarters
Last week, I visited NORAD Headquarters in Colorado Springs with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd J. Austin III. We had a series of briefings on continental defence and discussed the continued importance of this unique binational command. NORAD is the most integrated defence partnership in the world and protects the U.S and Canada from a wide range of threats. NORAD modernization is a key item in my mandate letter, and we will have more to say very shortly about our robust plan for NORAD's future.
Open Now: Special Representative on Combating Islamophobia Applications
Islamophobia and hate, in any form, have no place in Canada. Our government stands with and supports Muslim communities across Canada and reaffirms its commitment to take action to denounce and tackle Islamophobia and hate-fueled violence.
On June 6, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, announced that the Notice of Appointment Opportunity, which invites applicants to submit their candidacy for the new position of Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, has been posted on the Governor in Council Appointments website.
The Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia will serve as a champion, advisor, expert and representative to the Canadian government, for the purpose of enhancing efforts to combat Islamophobia and to address barriers facing Muslim communities, and promoting awareness of the diverse and intersectional identities of Muslims in Canada. To fulfill this role, qualified candidates must have the knowledge and understanding of Muslim communities across Canada, preferably based on lived experience.
Eligible candidates are encouraged to submit their applications by July 6.
IISS Shangri-La Dialogue
During my first visit to Asia, I addressed the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore about Canada’s approach to the Indo-Pacific region. Canada is an Atlantic, Arctic, and Pacific nation. As a Pacific nation, we believe that this region is of crucial importance to our country and we seek to help build a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
Through contributions to the United Nations Command, and commitments like Operation NEON and Operation REASSURANCE, Canada’s military presence in this region is enduring, significant, and we seek to do even more. Our commitment to this region runs deep, and our new Indo-Pacific Strategy will guide our efforts to build a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific, where states engage responsibly, behave transparently, and demonstrate respect for international rules. Canada is here as an enthusiastic partner, with an open mind, and an open invitation to work together.
New Legislation to Protect Canada’s Cyber Security
Today, Canadians face new and greater threats from malicious cyber activity – whether it’s electronic espionage, cyber attacks, or ransomware. As the next generation of telecommunications infrastructure is installed across the country, it will bring new opportunities and faster internet speeds. It will also bring potential new threats, which is why we are committed to taking the steps needed to keep Canadians and our telecommunications infrastructure safe and secure.
This week, Ministers Mendicino and Champagne introduced a Bill to keep Canada’s telecommunications network secure and address new cyber threats. Bill C-26, An Act Respecting Cyber Security (ARCS), will protect Canadians and bolster cyber security across the financial, telecommunications, energy, and transportation sectors.
Our government will never compromise when it comes to keeping Canadians safe. We will continue to protect critical telecommunications infrastructure from cyber attacks while supporting new technologies that will create opportunities for Canadians. To learn more, click here.
Age Well at Home Initiative
Every senior deserves a secure and dignified retirement, to live a safe and healthy life, and to be able to stay in their own home and community for as long as possible.
Last week, Minister Khera announced a new initiative, Age Well at Home, that will deliver practical support to help low-income and otherwise vulnerable seniors continue to live safely, independently and comfortably in their own homes and communities. The initiative will help seniors with at-home tasks such as home maintenance, transportation, meal preparation, help with groceries, snow removal and much more.
The calls for proposals for eligible organizations opened on June 8, 2022, and will remain open until July 22, 2022. To learn more, click here.