Newsletter - sept. 16, 2022
I join Canadians in mourning profoundly the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada and Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces. Her Majesty The Queen had a deep and meaningful relationship with our country’s military, whose members admired her selfless leadership.
Oakville was proud to host Queen Elizabeth II on two occasions in 1970 and 2002. In the spirit of our great admiration for Her Majesty, I was proud to bestow The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee award to members of our Oakville community who carry her same sense of duty.
During her 22 official visits to Canada, Her Majesty reaffirmed her close relationship with several Canadian military units, as well as numerous Regiments and Branches that bear Royal designations.
With the grace and steadfastness that characterized her decades on the throne, The Queen stood with our Armed Forces as they navigated challenging post-war operations in Canada and abroad.
On behalf of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of National Defence, I extend our most sincere and heartfelt condolences to members of the Royal Family.
Keynote Address to Oakville Chamber of Commerce
This morning, I was pleased to deliver a keynote address and answer top-of-mind questions about the work our government is doing to build an affordable Canada, clean economic growth in Oakville, and keeping Canadians safe in a changing world. I sincerely thank France Fournier and the entire team at the Oakville Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Janet Morrison from Sheridan College, and all those who made this event a success.
Making Life More Affordable
Canadians are feeling the rising cost of living, particularly through higher grocery bills and rent. While inflation is a global challenge, we are helping families weather its impacts by working to put more money back in the pockets of those who need it most. This week, the Prime Minister announced additional relief to help Canadians struggling with the rising cost of living. We are going to:
Provide up to $1,300 over the next two years for dental care for children under 12, starting this year;
Put up to an extra $234 in the pockets of single Canadians without children and up to $467 for couples with two children this year by doubling the GST tax credit for six months; and
Deliver $500 to qualifying low-income renters this year, including students.
These measures build on the strong action our government has taken since 2015 to make life more affordable. From cutting taxes for the middle class by raising them on the wealthiest 1%, to cutting child care fees in half on average by the end of this year, we are delivering support for the middle class and those working hard to join it.
Book of Condolences for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
On Saturday, I signed the book of condolences at Rideau Hall to pay tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We also looked toward the future, as we attended the proclamation of the accession of His Majesty King Charles III as Sovereign of Canada.
Canadians are invited to share their messages of sympathy for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in the online book of condolences.
Supports for Students
Young people have been through a lot over the past two years. We know that investing in education is one of the best ways to create jobs, grow the economy, and build a better future for young Canadians. As students heads back to the classroom, many will be wondering how they’ll pay tuition and make ends meet. There are lots of programs to assist students and parents with the cost of education, including:
Canada Learning Bond: if you’re turning 18 in 2022, you could get up to $2,000 for your education through the Canada Learning Bond.
Canada Apprenticeship Loan: if you’re an apprentice in a Red Seal Trade, you could get up to $4,000 in interest-free loans for each training period.
Canada Student Grants and Loans: if you’re a full-time post-secondary student, you could get up to $6,000 every year in grants and loans. We’ve also:
Doubled the amount of Canada Student Grants for which students are eligible;
Waived interest on Canada Student Loans until March 2023; and
Made it so that, starting November 1st, you won’t have to start repaying your federal student loans until you’re earning at least $40,000 per year.
Apprenticeship Incentive Grant: if you’re a registered apprentice who has completed their first or second level of training, you could get up to $1,000 in grants for each training level.
Apprenticeship Completion Grant: if you’re an apprentice or journeyperson completing their training, you could get up to $2,000 for your final level of training.
We are focused on supporting young Canadians as they build their careers to help grow our economy, create jobs, and build a better future – for everyone.