Minister Sajjan highlights budget investments to build Canada’s 21st century clean economy
News release
April 4, 2023 – Kelowna, British Columbia – PacifiCan
Today, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, visited Hexagon Purus, a new zero emissions vehicle systems manufacturer in Kelowna. During his visit, the Minister highlighted Budget 2023’s investments in a clean economy that can deliver prosperity, good jobs, and more vibrant communities across Canada.
Canada has made a remarkable recovery from the COVID recession. Canada’s economic growth was the strongest in the G7 over the last year and today 830,000 more Canadians are employed than before the pandemic, including 110,300 here in British Columbia.
Inflation in Canada has fallen for eight months in a row, our unemployment rate is near its record low, and, supported by our Canada-wide system of affordable early learning and child care, the labour force participation rate for women aged 25 to 54 reached at a record high of 85.7 per cent in February.
Budget 2023 builds on this important progress.
To build Canada’s clean economy, the budget makes transformative investments to fight climate change and create new opportunities for Canadian businesses and workers. This includes significant measures that will deliver cleaner and more affordable energy, support investment in our communities, and create good-paying jobs.
Our made-in-Canada plan is underpinned by a new federal toolkit for investing in the clean economy: a set of clear and predictable investment tax credits, low-cost strategic financing, and targeted investments and programming, where necessary, to respond to the unique needs of sectors or projects of national economic significance.
With a responsible fiscal plan that will see Canada maintain the lowest deficit and the lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7, Budget 2023 will help to build a Canada that is more secure, more sustainable, and more affordable for people from coast to coast to coast.
Quotes
“It is a challenging time in a challenging world, but there is no better place to be than Canada. Budget 2023 is our plan to make life more affordable, strengthen public health care, and build a stronger, more sustainable, and more secure Canadian economy—for everyone. The investments in Budget 2023 will help communities like Kelowna thrive well into the future.”
–The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
Quick facts
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To make life more affordable, Budget 2023 also delivers the new Grocery Rebate, offering targeted inflation relief for 11 million Canadians and families who need it most with up to an additional $467 for eligible couples with children; an additional $234 for single Canadians without children; and an additional $225 for seniors, on average.
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To strengthen Canada’s universal public health care system, the budget also delivers $198.3 billion, including $28.560 billion here in British Columbia to reduce backlogs, expand access to family health services, and ensure provinces and territories can provide the high quality and timely health care Canadians expect and deserve.
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Budget 2023 also introduces a new Canadian Dental Care Plan, to help up to nine million Canadians and ensure no Canadian has to choose between taking care of their health and paying the bills at the end of the month.
Related products
- Budget 2023: A Made-in-Canada Plan: Strong Middle Class, Affordable Economy, Healthy Future
- Budget 2023: Address by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
- Backgrounder: A Made-in-Canada Plan: Affordable Energy, Good Jobs, and a Growing Clean Economy
- Backgrounder: Stronger Public Health Care
- Backgrounder: Making Life More Affordable
- Backgrounder: An Affordable Place to Call Home
- Backgrounder: Advancing Reconciliation
- Backgrounder: Stronger and More Inclusive Communities
- Backgrounder: Improving Service Delivery
Contacts
Media may contact:
Haley Hodgson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Development and Minister Responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
haley.hodgson@international.gc.ca
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