Minister Duclos highlights budget investments to create a fair future for Indigenous peoples

WENDAKE, QC, April 23, 2024 /CNW/ - Through Budget 2024: A Fair Chance for Every Generation, the Government of Canada is investing to build a Canada that works better for everyone, where young people can get ahead, get a fair reward for their hard work and be able to buy their own homes, and where everyone has a fair chance at a good life in the middle class.

Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, met with Grand Chief Rémy Vincent of the Huron-Wendat Nation in Wendake to highlight the investments in Budget 2024 to create a fair future for Indigenous peoples, and to continue to progress towards reconciliation.

Budget 2024 is a plan to deliver fairness for every generation.

First, the budget takes bold action to build more homes. Because the best way to make home prices more affordable is to increase supply?and quickly. It lays out a strategy to unlock 3.87 million new homes by 2031. Key measures include launching the new Public Lands for Homes Plan and Canada Rental Protection Fund, enhancing the Canadian Mortgage Charter, and creating a new Canadian Renters' Bill of Rights.

Second, it will help make life cost less. The budget builds on the government's transformative expansion of Canada's social safety net?$10-a-day child care, dental care for uninsured Canadians, the first phase of universal pharmacare?and advances the government's work to lower everyday costs for Canadians. This includes helping to stabilize the cost of groceries, cracking down on junk fees, and lowering the costs of banking. Budget 2024 also makes transformative new investments, including a National School Food Program and the Canada Disability Benefit.

Third, this year's budget will grow the economy in a way that's shared by all. The government's plan will increase investment, enhance productivity, and encourage innovation. It will create good-paying and meaningful jobs, keep Canada at the economic forefront, and deliver new support to empower more of our best entrepreneurs and innovators. This includes attracting more investment in the net-zero economy by expanding and delivering the major economic investment tax credits, securing Canada's advantage as a leader in artificial intelligence, and investing in enhanced research grants that will provide younger generations with good jobs and new opportunities. And it means ensuring Indigenous Peoples share in this growth in a way that works for them.

Budget 2024 will also make Canada's tax system fairer by asking the wealthiest to pay a bit more?so that the government can invest in prosperity for every generation, and because it would be irresponsible and unfair to pass on more debt to the next generations. Budget 2024 is a responsible economic plan that upholds the fiscal objectives outlined in the 2023 Fall Economic Statement, and sees Canada maintain the lowest deficit- and net debt-to-GDP ratios in the G7.

"Our government first came to office with a vow to strengthen and expand the middle class. We delivered on that pledge by reducing poverty, especially for children and seniors, and creating millions of good jobs for Canadians. Our work isn't done. Budget 2024 renews our focus on unlocking the door to the middle class for millions of younger Canadians. We'll build more housing and help make life cost less. We will drive our economy toward growth that lifts everyone up. That is fairness for every generation."

- The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

"The housing crisis is particularly acute in Indigenous communities. The Budget 2024 investments will accelerate the construction of affordable housing in these communities and help them take full advantage of the economic development opportunities available to them. The community of Wendake has several major housing and economic development projects underway, and we will continue to support these projects that will contribute to the success and prosperity of the Huron-Wendat Nation, as well as other Indigenous communities across the country."

- The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement

"The Huron-Wendat Nation is currently working on a number of real estate development projects aimed, among other things, at enabling our population to settle in the community, while more than 1,000 Wendat are waiting for access to it. By expanding the community, as well as acquiring surplus land from National Defence in Sainte-Foy, we will be meeting a growing need for our members, as well as members of other First Nations. That's why I welcome the government's announcement of funding for this type of project with great enthusiasm."

? Rémy Vincent, Grand Chief, Huron-Wendat Nation

• Budget 2024: Fairness for Every Generation
• Budget 2024: Address by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
• Budget 2024: Key Measures
• A Fair Future for Indigenous Peoples
• Backgrounder: Tax Fairness for Every Generation

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SOURCE Public Services and Procurement Canada