Today, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Hon. Lawrence MacAulay, met with IBEW in Calgary to highlight Budget 2023’s investments in sustainable jobs and a clean economy.
Canada has made a remarkable recovery from the COVID recession. Canada’s economic growth was the strongest in the G7 last year, and today 830,000 more Canadians are employed than before the pandemic, including 128,600 here in Alberta. Inflation in Canada has fallen for eight straight months, our unemployment rate is near its record low and, supported by our Canada-wide system of affordable early childhood education and childcare, the labor force participation rate for women ages 25-54 has reached a record high of 85.7 percent in February.
To build Canada’s clean economy, the budget is making transformative investments to combat climate change and create new opportunities for Canadian businesses and workers. This includes significant actions that deliver cleaner and more affordable energy, support investment in our communities, and create high-paying jobs.
To make life more affordable, Budget 2023 is offering the new grocery rebate, providing targeted inflation relief to 11 million Canadians and families who need it most, with up to an additional $467 for eligible couples with children; additional $234 for single Canadians with no children; and an additional average of $225 for seniors. The government is also taking action to crack down on junk fees and bootleg loans, lower fees on small business credit card transactions, and help Canadians keep more money in their pockets.
To strengthen Canada’s universal public health system, the budget allocates $198.3 billion, including $25.096 billion here in Alberta, to reduce backlogs, expand access to family health services, and ensure provinces and territories meet the be able to provide the quality and timely healthcare that Canadians expect and deserve. Budget 2023 is also introducing 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 their bills at the end of the month.
With a responsible budget that will ensure Canada maintains the lowest deficit and net debt to GDP ratio in the G7, Budget 2023 will help build a Canada that is safer, more sustainable and more affordable for people living on the coast from coast to coast.
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