Minister Fortier and Minister Rodriguez meet with Community Leaders in Laval for Budget 2021 consultations
News release
February 8, 2021 - Laval, Quebec - Department of Finance Canada
The government has a plan to make smart, targeted investments to jumpstart the country’s economic recovery so Canada can come roaring back after the pandemic.
That’s why, today, the Honourable Mona Fortier, Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance, and the Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, met virtually with local businesses and community organizations from the Laval region, to hear their ideas about how Budget 2021 can support families, workers and businesses and help the region become stronger, and more inclusive after the pandemic.
During this roundtable discussion, the ministers heard about investment opportunities in the region to create jobs for workers.
The government is not simply aiming to get back to where we were before COVID-19. The pandemic has exposed critical gaps in our social safety net and the virus has hit certain sectors and groups of people harder than others – including seniors, women, low wage workers, young people, people of colour and Indigenous peoples. For all of these reasons and more, Budget 2021 will be among the most significant in Canadian history. By working together, we will build a stronger, more resilient middle class and grow an economy that improves the lives of every single person in Canada.
All Canadians are invited to share their ideas through an online questionnaire at LetsTalkBudget2021.ca, which will be available until February 19, 2021.
Quotes
“It was a pleasure to meet virtually with local businesses and community organizations from Laval, to hear their priorities for Budget 2021 and visions for how we can work together to build back better. Through Budget 2021, our government has a plan to make investments that will help communities in Laval to create good jobs as part of an economic recovery that will spur innovation and increase Canada’s competitive edge.”
The Honourable Mona Fortier, Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance
“At the beginning of the pandemic, we promised Canadians that no one would be left behind. We were there for families from Laval and the Couronne Nord region by protecting their jobs and increasing the Canada Child Benefit. Now that we are preparing a growth plan, it is essential that we listen to the needs of businesses in the region, so that the economic recovery and creation of good jobs also benefits families from the North Shore of Montreal.”
The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Quick facts
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More than eight of every 10 dollars spent in Canada to fight COVID-19 and support Canadians has been spent by the federal government and this unprecedented support has prevented economic scarring and stabilized the economy.
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This includes programs like the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and the Canada Emergency Business Account, which were put in place to protect jobs through this crisis.
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To continue supporting workers and businesses, the Government of Canada has increased the maximum base wage subsidy rate to 75 per cent, expanded the Canada Emergency Business Account, and launched the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy and Lockdown Support for businesses, among many other measures.
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Once the virus is under control, the Government of Canada will invest in a growth plan of roughly three to four per cent of GDP, between up to $70 and $100 billion, over three years, to jumpstart our recovery.
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Key to this stimulus plan will be smart, time-limited investments that can act fast and make a long-run contribution to Canada’s future shared prosperity, quality of life, competitiveness, and green transformation.
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Contacts
Media may contact:
Isabella Brisson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance
isabella.brisson@canada.ca
Media Relations
Department of Finance Canada
fin.media-media.fin@canada.ca
613-369-4000
General enquiries
Phone: 613-369-3710
Facsimile: 613-369-4065
TTY: 613-369-3230
E-mail: fin.financepublic-financepublique.fin@canada.ca