The COVID-19 pandemic is the most serious public health crisis Canada has ever faced. The last six months have revealed fundamental gaps in our society, and in societies around the world. For those who are already struggling – including parents, racialized Canadians, Indigenous Peoples, young Canadians, seniors – the pandemic has made life more difficult.
The Speech from the Throne outlined four foundations to move Canada forward and to take bold action on healthcare, the economy, social equality, and the environment to build a more resilient Canada for everyone.
The four foundations are:
A full broadcast of the Speech from the Throne is available down below.
The first foundation of this plan is to fight the pandemic and save lives by doing everything we can to protect Canadians. Our priority is to look out for all Canadians, especially our most vulnerable
Our government will continue to be there to help the provinces increase their testing capacity. As soon as tests are approved by Health Canada, the government will do everything it can to see them deployed. The government will also create a federal Testing Assistance Response Team to quickly meet surge testing needs and will make sure Canadians will be able to get a vaccine once it is ready. It will take all of us to keep Canadians safe and healthy, to beat this virus.
The second foundation of our plan is to do whatever it takes to support Canadians and businesses through this crisis.
Now is not the time for austerity. Ensuring Canadians are supported through this health crisis is the best thing we can do for our economy. Canadians should not have to choose between their health and their job, just like Canadians should not have to take on debt that their gov- ernment can better shoulder.
Over the last 6 months, close to 9 million Canadians were helped with the Canada Emergency Response Benefit; over 3.5 million jobs were supported by the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy; and the government has also invested over $19 billion for a Safe Restart Agreement, and $2 billion for a Safe Return to Class Fund, along with new funding for Indigenous communi- ties
We will continue to help Canadians put food on the table, keep businesses open, create jobs, support women in the economy, and ensure our fiscal sustainability.
This plan will include: (i) creation of over a million jobs; (ii) extending the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy through to next summer; (iii) creating direct investments in training, hiring and retaining of employees; and (iv) creating jobs for young Canadians.
The plan will also focus on supporting workers and their families during this time by creating a transition Employment Insurance (EI) plan, that includes workers who would not traditionally qualify for EI.
Women, particularly low-income women, have been the hardest hit by COVID-19. A new Action Plan for Women in the Economy will be created, guided by a task force of diverse voices, in order to help more women get back into the workforce and ensure a feminist intersectional response to the pandemic and recovery
Furthermore, Canada-wide early learning and childcare system will be reated to give parents access to affordable, inclusive, and high quality child care.
The third foundation is to build back better to create a stronger, more resilient Canada - to continue strengthening the middle class and helping people working hard to join it, and to address gaps in
our social systems, invest in healthcare, and build a stronger workforce.
Our government has committed to a robust plan to make sure seniors in our Long-Term Care facilities will be cared for and safe. Increases to Old Age Security once a senior turns 75, and the Canada Pension Plan survivor’s benefit will also be made to better support seniors financially.
Under this plan our government will also bring forward a Disability Inclusion Plan, which will have: (i) a new Canadian Disability Benefit modelled after the GIS for seniors; (ii) A robust employment strategy for Canadians with disabilities; and (iii) a better process to determine eligibility for government disability programs and benefits.
We will also build long-term competitiveness through clean growth while fighting climate change by immediately bringing forward a plan to exceed Canada’s 2030 climate goal; legislating Canada’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, supporting investments in renewable energy and next generation clean energy and technology solutions.
The fourth foundation of this plan is to stand up for who we are as Canadians, and defending our values. Here in Canada, we take care of one another.
Together, there is more work to do to achieve progress on gender equality, walk the road to reconciliation, and addressing systemic racism. We will stand up for the values that define our country, from embracing our two official languages, celebrating the contributions of LGBTQ2 communities, welcoming newcomers and supporting family reunification.
Canadians have lived through uncertain times before and have always prevailed because determination, concern for others and courage define our nation.
We must bring all those qualities to bear once again and continue to work for the common good, and for a better, safer and more just society.
This is who we are and what will see us through to brighter days .
| Mon: | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Tue: | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Wed: | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Thu: | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Fri: | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Sat: | Closed |
| Sun: | Closed |
