Official Hansard
Madam Chair, I have the opportunity to speak before you tonight, which I would say is a great privilege. I want to thank my colleagues for being here this evening and for taking the time to debate important issues, because we are talking about the budget, after all. We are talking about Canada’s public finances. I also want to thank the deputy chair, who plays a very important role in Canada’s democracy. I thank the Chair for giving me the opportunity to speak this evening. Needless to say, as some members have mentioned, Canada, like many other countries, is going through a time of tremendous upheaval. From new geopolitical dynamics to supply chain disruptions to rapid technological breakthroughs, including in artificial intelligence, the world is changing at an unprecedented speed, scope and scale. Canada, quite simply, must adapt to thrive. That is exactly why the government presented generational investments in budget 2020, and we have continued the work in the spring economic update. We understand that this is the time to be bold. This is the time to build at a speed and scale not seen in generations. This is a time to build Canada strong, and that is exactly what we are proposing to Canadians. Last year, as the Chair will recall, because she and my colleagues were here, I was honoured to rise in the House to present budget 2025, which laid out our government’s ambitious plan to act swiftly to make and unlock generational investments to foster vibrant communities, empower Canadians, protect our country and build the strongest economy in the G7. I am happy to report that we are on track to build the strongest economy in the G7. Last month, we built upon that progress with the 2026 spring economic update, which further outlined our plan to build a stronger and more resilient Canadian economy, purpose-built to meet the unique challenges of the 21st century and the very challenging times that we are facing in the world. Many of these initiatives were, of course, reflected in the main estimates tabled this year. I am honoured to join you today to discuss the main estimates and our bold plan to build a stronger, more independent, more resilient Canada, to deliver for Canadians and to ensure that growth is felt by Canadians across the country. This is about building a Canada for all. Today, thanks to the 2026 spring economic update, we are staying on the right track. We are building homes and carrying out major projects across the country quickly and sustainably. We are creating more opportunities for our workers and for young Canadians. We are promoting stronger, safer communities. Together, we can build a stronger Canada for all. I see that my colleagues are smiling. I understand why, because everyone in this place wants to work to build a stronger, more resilient Canada. First, I want to highlight the Canada strong fund, Canada’s own sovereign wealth fund designed to deliver generational infrastructure and nation-building projects and ultimately to grow wealth for future generations. This new fund will invest in key strategic Canadian projects and companies alongside the private sector, creating jobs, supporting innovation and making Canada more competitive. What is more, Canadians themselves will have the opportunity to invest in the fund, sharing in its success. I was pleased to see the international press say that Canada was creating its own sovereign wealth fund, but that, in a very Canadian way, people would be able to invest and share in the growth that we will see in this country. Like us, Canadians believe in Canadian workers and in the Canadian economy. By taking part directly in our shared successes by investing in the fund, Canadians will be given the opportunity to share in our growth and contribute to the country we are building together. Because we know that Canadian workers will be the ones who ultimately build the strongest economy in the G7, our government is also launching team Canada strong, a nationwide effort to recruit, train and hire 80,000 to 100,000 new Red Seal skilled trade workers across the country. This innovative program will provide young people in this country with a clear path into the skilled trades and related careers in housing, infrastructure and defence. We are offering Canadians pursuing apprenticeships up to $16,000 in weekly top-ups during the training, a $5,000 completion bonus and direct incentives for employers, including up to $10,000 in wage subsidies per apprentice. That is what I would call a win-win-win approach, and that is why we are proud to announce this to Canadians. To support young people, our government is making education more affordable by extending the increase in Canada student grants and interest-free Canada student loans for another year. This will benefit thousands of students across the country. The goal is not just to create jobs, but to create new opportunities for young Canadians to serve their country, build a fulfilling life and shape their collective future. Second, I would like to note that the spring economic statement of 2026 highlights many measures to support Canadians at a time when global cost pressures are weighing heavily on households here in the country and among our G7 partners. From permanently removing the consumer carbon price and suspending the fuel excise tax until Labour Day and making groceries and essentials more affordable to getting 6.5 million Canadians dental coverage, our government has been relentlessly focused on making life more affordable for Canadians and providing relief where people need it most. That includes significant progress in making housing more affordable. Colleagues were asking questions and we are on track to make housing more affordable, which is indeed a key pillar of overall cost-of-living stability. Home prices in Canada are now down 21%, and rents are down 8% nationally. For many families, this is starting to translate into real relief. The spring economic update builds on the progress made through Build Canada Homes and even includes new investments aimed at increasing the housing supply, reducing costs and helping more Canadians access safe and affordable housing. This includes cutting red tape to build homes faster, supporting innovation in construction, accelerating over $7 billion in low-cost financing, boosting the housing supply, and protecting construction jobs across Canada in partnership with the provinces and territories. Our government is helping those most in need by expanding support for people experiencing homelessness and ensuring that survivors of domestic violence have access to safe housing. The government is also continuing to strengthen Canada’s independence in key sectors and working more closely with our trusted partners to protect our security and our resilience. In 2025-26, we invested more than $63 billion in the Canadian Armed Forces, the single largest year-on-year increase in defence investments in this country, as part of our ambitious plan to rebuild, rearm and reinvest in our armed forces. I want to say that we want to thank them. I think I can speak on behalf of all my colleagues in the House tonight. We want to thank the men and women in uniform for their service to this country. I think they deserve a big round of applause. Thanks to these investments, Canada is now on a path to meet the NATO defence investment pledge of investing 5% of GDP in defence by 2035. These and future investments in Canada’s sovereignty will be guided by Canada’s first-ever defence industrial strategy and support the more timely and transparent acquisition of military goods through the new Defence Investment Agency. Obviously, I have a lot to say this evening, because what we are presenting to Canadians is an ambitious plan. Our plan addresses the most pressing issue of the moment, the urgent need for action. I attended a G7 meeting last week, and I can say that the G7 countries are united in their desire to take action. We sometimes hear about the fog of uncertainty that has descended on the world. What I can say is that Canada is like a beacon in that fog, with strong institutions, a generational plan and investments that will grow the economy. I can report to Canadians that Canada is on the right path. We will build Canada strong. We will be protecting our communities. We will empower Canadians. The best thing is that we are just getting started to work, and we will continue to fight for Canadians every single day.
