Statement by the Prime Minister on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
October 17, 2022
Ottawa, Ontario
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The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty:
“Ending poverty and making life more affordable for people is a top priority for the Government of Canada. Today, on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, we reflect on the progress we have made toward this crucial goal, and the work we still need to do.
“Here in Canada, we have helped lift millions of Canadians out of poverty and given them a real and fair chance at success through initiatives like the Canada Child Benefit, which puts more money in the pockets of nine out of 10 Canadian families, and our Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Plan, which is cutting regulated child care fees in half on average this year, and will deliver $10-a-day child care on average in the coming years. These are key drivers toward achieving our goal of reducing poverty in Canada by 50 per cent by 2030, as set out in Canada’s first-ever Poverty Reduction Strategy.
“Right now, the rising cost of living is making it harder for families to make ends meet. That’s why we are making life more affordable for those who need it most this year. Recently, we enhanced the Canada Workers Benefit for low- and modest-income workers to put up to an additional $2,400 in their pockets and we increased Old Age Security for seniors 75 years and older, providing up to $800 this year for full pensioners. We also introduced legislation to provide a one-time top-up of $500 to the Canada Housing Benefit for low-income renters, $1,300 over two years for dental care for children under 12 who do not have access to dental insurance, and up to $467 for families with two children by doubling the Goods and Services Tax Credit for six months. To keep pace with the rising cost of living, the Canada Child Benefit, the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, and the Guaranteed Income Supplement, among other federal support programs, are guaranteed to be indexed to inflation. We are supporting families who need it most, when they need it most.
“Poverty knows no borders, and Canada is committed to ending poverty everywhere, in all its forms, in line with the first United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) – a goal I will continue to drive progress toward as Co-Chair of the UN SDGs Advocates Group. Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy ensures our international development efforts focus on advancing gender equality, because when we eliminate barriers and empower women and girls, we drive economic growth that benefits everyone.
“On this day, we recommit to a Canada – and a world – without poverty. Together, we will build a better future for everyone.”
October 16, 2022
Ottawa, Ontario
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Small Business Week, which runs from October 16 to 22, 2022:
“Today marks the beginning of Small Business Week, an opportunity for us to celebrate the creativity, dedication, and innovation of Canadian entrepreneurs, and small and medium-sized business owners.
“From your local grocery store you visit every weekend, the coffee shops you pass on your way into work, and the corner store or dépanneur that always seems to be open, small businesses are the heart of our communities and the backbone of our economy. They provide the goods and services we need, and employ over 10 million people across the country.
“Over the past two years, while small business owners have faced many challenges, we have been there to support them – and we will continue working with them to make sure they have what they need to grow and succeed. When small businesses succeed, our economy grows, jobs are created, and communities thrive. That’s why Budget 2022 proposed to cut taxes for growing small businesses. The Digital Adoption Program is helping businesses move their services online and adopt new technologies. And this past July, we also enhanced the Small Business Financing Program so that entrepreneurs can access the funds they need to recover, innovate, and grow as we build a better future for Canadians.
“We are also helping small businesses weather a new wave of challenges: increased inflation, rising labour costs, and a shortage of workers. We proposed new measures to ensure that doing business in Canada is as easy as possible, including building more resilient supply chains and increasing immigration levels to help fill the worker shortage. We will continue to ensure small businesses have money to grow, and access to the materials and workforce they need to do it.
“To Canada’s small and medium-sized business owners and entrepreneurs: thank you for your hard work. This week, and every week, I encourage all Canadians to shop local, and together, we will build a stronger future for everyone.”
October 14, 2022
Waterloo Region, Ontario
Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the President of Suriname and Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Chandrikapersad Santokhi.
Prime Minister Trudeau and President Santokhi exchanged views on the evolving situation in Haiti. The Prime Minister commended Suriname and CARICOM leadership on addressing the political, humanitarian, and security crises in the region.
The two leaders expressed their grave concern about the blockades in the Haitian capital, including at the Varreux terminal. They discussed the impacts of the blockades on access to fuel, water, essential goods, and medicine, and the resulting constraints on humanitarian operations and efforts to address the emerging cholera outbreak in the country.
Prime Minister Trudeau conveyed Canada’s ongoing commitment to collaboration with regional partners to support Haiti’s stability and sustainable development.
The two leaders agreed to continue to work together to advance a Haitian-led solution and encourage inclusive political dialogue among Haitian stakeholders.
The Prime Minister and the President agreed to stay in close contact as the situation in Haiti evolves.
Associated Links
- Canada-Suriname Relations
- Canada-Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Relations
- Canada-Haiti Relations
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with President of Suriname Chandrikapersad Santokhi
- Chairs Statement: Meeting on Haiti at the General Assembly of the Organization of American States
October 17, 2022
Ottawa, Ontario
Now more than ever, Canadians depend on fast and reliable technology to work, do business, and stay in touch with their families and friends. That’s why the Government of Canada is supporting innovative solutions to strengthen and grow our country’s wireless infrastructure for generations to come. By continuing to invest in digital innovation, we will continue to create good middle-class jobs and new opportunities for Canadians and small businesses across the country to help them succeed in the economy of today and tomorrow.
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, was joined today by the Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, the President and CEO of Nokia, Pekka Lundmark, and the President of Nokia Canada, Jeffrey Maddox, to announce a new project from global telecommunications company Nokia that would help Canada successfully transition to the next generation of 5G wireless technology.
This transformative $340 million project would expand Nokia’s Ottawa facility and revitalize its laboratories with the goal to further advance wireless technology research and development in Canada. It is expected to create more than 340 good middle-class jobs, and to increase co-op and intern positions for university and college students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
This new investment is an important step toward strengthening Canada’s wireless network, paving the way for new opportunities in innovative technology, including in the areas of clean energy, smart cities, precision agriculture, autonomous vehicles, and advanced telemedicine. We will continue to support innovation to grow our economy, connect our communities, and create good middle-class jobs for Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
Quotes
“The project we’re announcing will help connect Canadians to the jobs of today and tomorrow. It will bring economic benefits to the National Capital Region and stimulate Canada’s tech ecosystem. This is about building a strong economy and a better future for everyone.”
“This monumental investment from Nokia shows once again that there is no better place for businesses to grow and jobs to be created than here in Ontario. We are proud to work alongside our partners to secure hundreds more in demand, high-skill jobs for the Ottawa region and we welcome this long-term commitment from Nokia to our province, and our workers.”
“Canadians rely on wireless and Internet services for virtually everything: working, school, commuting, as well as staying in touch with loved ones. That is why it’s essential we have access to the most advanced digital telecommunications tools. Today’s announcement will help enable exciting new technologies that will have a transformative effect on Canada’s economy and the day-to-day lives of Canadians. By partnering with Nokia, Canada is strengthening its digital infrastructure and cementing its position at the forefront of the digital technology.”
“Nokia is helping to drive Canada’s tech leadership. This world-class, sustainable R&D hub will be one of Nokia’s most dynamic developments – and I’m proud that it will benefit the people of Ottawa also. This is an exciting day. I want to express my appreciation to the local, provincial, and national governments for working with us on this project.”
“Today’s announcement reinforces Nokia’s commitment to the Canadian market, where we have invested $1.2 billion in R&D over the past five years. Nokia’s R&D hub will generate net-new Canadian IP and bring innovative advanced telecommunications and cyber security technologies to market, helping us achieve our goal of improving people’s lives in Canada and across the world.”
Quick Facts
- The next generation of 5G wireless technology is expected to add $40 billion annually to Canada’s economy in the next four years.
- Nokia is a global leader in telecom equipment, operating in 130 countries and employing 88,000 people. In 2022, the company had $28 billion in global sales.
- Over the past five years, Nokia has invested $1.2 billion in research and development in Canada, with innovations being used by communications service providers and web-based companies, such as Amazon and Google.
- Nokia employs 2,200 people in Canada and Nokia’s research and development operation in Ottawa is the largest single telecom employer in the region.
- The information and communications technology sector plays an essential role in Canada’s economy and provides Canadians with good middle-class jobs. Each new job created by an investment in this sector creates 2.3 new jobs in the broader Canadian economy. Every dollar spent in this sector adds almost two dollars to our economy.
- Consultations will first take place between the Government of Canada and Nokia to inform funding decisions in support of this project. If an agreement is finalized, federal funding would be provided through the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF). Since its creation in 2017, the SIF has helped Canadian companies create and maintain close to 100,000 jobs, and has leveraged $57 billion in additional investments.
- Through the SIF, the Government of Canada has already committed to invest $5.6 billion in Canadian industries, providing support for innovative projects that help position Canada to prosper in the global economy.
