March 25, 2024
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Canada from March 24 to 25. The two leaders advanced co-operation in shared interests, including trade and investment, climate action, tourism, and creating good, middle-class jobs.
During the visit, the Prime Ministers agreed to strengthen bilateral co-operation in emergency management and public safety. Greece’s purchase of seven DHC-515 firefighting planes is an important step forward in joint efforts to tackle wildfires and an example of the robust partnership between Canada and Greece. The two leaders also recognized the importance of tourism and agreed to work together to develop a memorandum of understanding to create jobs and opportunity.
Prime Minister Trudeau announced a $10 million investment for the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal to build a new community centre in the heart of Chomedey, Laval. The complex will be a space for the public, including the Greek community, to celebrate culture, tradition, and heritage. It will include a theater, a sports complex, a library, offices, and other spaces to bring the community together and host commemorative events. With funding through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program, it will be a modern and net-zero community complex.
The leaders emphasized the common values and close ties that unite our people. They attended a service at Evangelismos Tis Theotokou Orthodox Church, participated in the Greek Independence Day Parade, and met with the Greek-Canadian community of Montréal.
As NATO Allies and steadfast partners, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing peace, stability and prosperity worldwide, including in Ukraine and the Middle East. They also recognized the impacts of climate change and committed to deepening partnership to address this global challenge.
Quote
“Canada and Greece hold a shared commitment to building a better future. Prime Minister Mitsotakis’ visit will deepen our friendship as we create good jobs, grow trade, tackle climate change, and protect democracy. On this Greek Independence Day, we look forward to advancing this relationship – and making life better for all those who call our countries home.”
Quick Facts
- This is Prime Minister Mitsotakis’ first official visit to Canada since his election as Prime Minister of Greece in 2019.
- The advanced DHC-515 aircraft will be built in Calgary, Alberta.
- The new community centre to be built in Laval will include an athletic complex with a double gym, a theatre, space for social services, a library, offices, conference rooms and more.
- An estimated 270,000 Canadians are of Greek descent.
- In 2023, Canada’s two-way merchandise trade with Greece reached a record $585 million.
- Canada and Greece are like-minded on key global and regional issues. They work closely together in a range of multilateral institutions, including the United Nations, NATO, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the World Trade Organization, and La Francophonie.
- Canada and Greece have maintained diplomatic relations for over 80 years.
Related Products
- Backgrounder: The Government of Canada and the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal invest $25 million in a new energy-efficient community centre in Laval
- Joint statement by Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Mitsotakis
Associated Links
- Canada-Greece Relations
- Canada and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
- Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis to visit Canada
Protecting and expanding affordable housing
April 4, 2024
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Everyone deserves to succeed. But today, for too many Canadians, your hard work isn’t paying off like it did for previous generations. Your paycheque doesn’t go as far as costs go up, and saving enough seems harder and harder. It doesn’t have to be this way. Every generation should get a fair chance to get ahead.
One of the biggest pressures on people right now is housing, especially for young Canadians and low- and middle-income families who rent. In the last decade, hundreds of thousands of affordable homes have been lost in Canada ‒ some demolished and not replaced, others sold to speculators and large corporations. With skyrocketing rents, renovictions, a lack of housing options, and tenants being priced out of their communities, for renters, it feels like the deck is stacked against them.
We’ve taken bold action to build more homes, faster, improve access to housing, and make homes more affordable – and we need to do more.
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced the launch of a new $1.5 billion Canada Rental Protection Fund to protect affordable housing and create thousands of new affordable apartments.
A key measure in the upcoming Budget 2024, the Fund will provide $1 billion in loans and $470 million in contributions to non-profit organizations and other partners so they can acquire units and preserve rent prices in the long term. Co-led and co-funded by the federal government and other partners, the Fund will mobilize investments and financing from the charitable sector and the private sector to protect and grow affordable housing in Canada.
These loans will help preserve more rental homes and make sure they’re affordable – and they will protect the most vulnerable renters. That means if an affordable rental building goes up for sale, instead of that apartment being sold to a speculator or profiteer, it can go to non-profit organizations, community housing providers, and the middle class. It will mean Canadians can live in the communities they love, with rent prices they can afford. This program will be available later this year, and it will have a direct impact in making the housing market fairer for renters.
This is just one of the things that we are going to be doing in Budget 2024 to cut red tape, build more homes, and grow our communities. This week, we announced a $15 billion top-up to the Apartment Construction Loan Program, a new $6 billion Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund, and a $400 million top-up to the Housing Accelerator Fund. That’s hundreds of thousands of new homes fast-tracked. Alongside these measures, we’re getting healthy food on the plates of kids, investing in health care, making life more affordable, and creating good jobs to make sure every generation can get ahead.
Quotes
“We’re making the playing field fairer for renters. Through Budget 2024, we’re working with non-profits to protect affordable housing, preserve rent prices, and build thousands of new apartments. It’s simple – you should be able to live in the community you love, with a rent you can afford.”
“Affordable housing providers are doing important work to help keep rents affordable and stable for thousands of Canadians. But market pressures are putting affordable apartments at risk. So, we’re launching a $1.5 billion Canada Rental Protection Fund to preserve and grow our affordable housing supply, helping more Canadians save on rent.”
“We need to make sure affordable housing stays affordable in Canada. The Canada Rental Protection Fund is going to help protect the affordable housing we have so Canadians can live in the communities they love.”
Quick Facts
- The Government of Canada’s Budget 2024 will be tabled in the House of Commons by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
- In recent days, the Prime Minister announced new action in advance of Budget 2024 to ensure fairness for every generation. Budget 2024 will:
- Restore generational fairness for renters, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, by taking new action to protect renters’ rights and unlock pathways for them to become homeowners. Learn more.
- Save more young families money and help more moms return to their careers by building more affordable child care spaces and training more early childhood educators across Canada. Learn more.
- Create a National School Food Program to provide meals to about 400,000 kids every year and help ensure every child has the best start in life, no matter their circumstances. Learn more.
- Launch a new $6 billion Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund to accelerate the construction or upgrade of essential infrastructure across the country and get more homes built for Canadians. Learn more.
- Top-up the Apartment Construction Loan Program with $15 billion, make new reforms so it is easier to access, and launch Canada Builds to call on all provinces and territories to join a Team Canada effort to build more homes, faster. Learn more.
- The new Canada Rental Protection Fund builds on other initiatives we have implemented to help maintain a resilient community housing sector and deliver below-market housing options in Canada, including:
- The Affordable Housing Fund, a $14+ billion initiative that supports the creation of affordable rental housing and the repair and renewal of existing housing. It is designed to attract partnerships and investments to develop projects that meet a broad spectrum of housing needs, from shelters to mixed-income and mixed-use rentals. As of December 31, 2023, the Fund has committed $8+ billion to repair or renew over 150,000 homes and support the construction of more than 32,000 new homes.
- The Rapid Housing Initiative, a $4 billion fund that is fast-tracking the construction of 15,500 new affordable homes for people experiencing homelessness or in severe housing need by 2026. The Rapid Housing Initiative also supports the acquisition of existing buildings for the purpose of rehabilitation or conversion to permanent affordable housing units, focusing on the housing needs of the most vulnerable, including people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, women fleeing domestic violence, seniors, Indigenous Peoples, and persons with disabilities.
- The Federal Community Housing Initiative, a $600+ million initiative that provides funding to federally administered community housing providers to stabilize their operations, subsidize rents for tenants in need, and maintain the current federally administered community housing stock, which includes 55,000 households.
- Canada’s economic plan is to build more homes faster and to make housing more affordable. This plan also includes:
- The Apartment Construction Loan Program, a $40 billion initiative that will be topped up with an additional $15 billion in Budget 2024 to boost the construction of new rental homes by providing low-cost financing to homebuilders. Since 2017, the Apartment Construction Loan Program has committed over $18 billion in loans to support the creation of more than 48,000 new rental homes. With yesterday’s announcement, the Apartment Construction Loan Program is now on track to help build over 131,000 new rental homes across Canada by 2031-32.
- The Housing Accelerator Fund, a $4 billion initiative that will be topped up with an additional $400 million in Budget 2024 to encourage municipalities to incentivize building by making transformative changes, such as removing prohibitive zoning barriers. To date, the federal government has signed 179 Housing Accelerator Fund agreements which, combined, will fast-track an estimated total of over 750,000 housing units across the country over the next decade.
- Progress on these and other programs and initiatives under Canada’s National Housing Strategy are updated quarterly at www.placetocallhome.ca. The Housing Funding Initiatives Map shows affordable housing projects that have been developed.
- Since 2015, the federal government has helped almost two million Canadians find a place to call home.
April 4, 2024
Ottawa, Ontario
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO):
“For 75 years, NATO has been the cornerstone of transatlantic security. Created in the aftermath of the Second World War, it unites 32 countries around collective defence – the principle that we are stronger together. On this milestone anniversary, we celebrate the Alliance and our fellow Allies for their contributions to protecting freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.
“Canada was a founding member of NATO in 1949. Since then, we have deepened our role in the Alliance by participating in nearly every NATO operation. From the violent aftermath of Yugoslavia’s collapse to the response to the tragic events of 9/11, NATO has come together again and again. And today, with the accessions of Finland and Sweden, the Alliance’s solidarity remains resolute.
“In response to Russia’s illegal aggression against Ukraine, starting in 2014, NATO has undertaken the greatest collective defence efforts in a generation to promote security and stability in Central and Eastern Europe. Ukraine is fighting for its land, its culture, and its right to self-determination, but it is also fighting for democracy – and NATO stands steadfast in support of Ukraine. To support our Allies on NATO’s Eastern Flank, Canada has deployed over 1,300 Canadian Armed Forces members to Europe under Operation REASSURANCE, and we are committing to significantly increasing this number to 2,200, strengthening what was already Canada’s largest active overseas military operation.
“Today, Canada is the seventh largest financial contributor to the Alliance, and we know there is more to do. That’s why we are modernizing the North American Aerospace Defense Command and making massive investments in the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army, and the Royal Canadian Air Force, including through the purchase of new warships, maritime patrol aircraft, and F‑35 fighter jets. As we tackle the threats of today and tomorrow, we must, and we will, invest even more in Canada’s defence capabilities – helping make sure NATO remains agile, strong, and ready.
“Canadians know that we are stronger together. Canada and the NATO Alliance will always stand up in defence of peace and freedom. Today, I encourage all Canadians to learn more about our collective defence efforts and celebrate NATO’s contributions to security. As we mark 75 years of NATO, let’s reaffirm our work to strengthen the Alliance and to stand up for freedom, justice, and democracy around the world.”
April 3, 2024
Greater Toronto Area, Ontario
Everyone deserves to succeed. But today, for too many Canadians, your hard work isn’t paying off like it did for previous generations. Your paycheque doesn’t go as far as costs go up, and saving enough seems harder and harder. It doesn’t have to be this way. Every generation should get a fair chance to get ahead.
One of the biggest pressures on young people right now is housing, and this is true for Canadians right across the country. We’ve already taken bold action to build more homes, faster, improve access to housing, and make homes more affordable – and we know there is more to be done. We need a Team Canada effort to tackle our national housing crisis – getting every partner on board and getting more homes built. That means every order of government coming together and building more homes for Canadians at prices they can afford, especially on land ready for development.
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced transformative measures from the upcoming Budget 2024 to get shovels in the ground and build more homes, faster.
These measures include:
- Delivering a $15 billion top-up to the Apartment Construction Loan Program to build a minimum of 30,000 new apartments. With this top-up, the program’s financing is on track to build over 131,000 new apartments within the next decade.
- Announcing new reforms to the Apartment Construction Loan Program to increase access to the program and make it easier for builders to build. These reforms include:
- Extending loan terms;
- Extending access to financing to include housing for students and seniors;
- Introducing a portfolio approach to eligibility requirements so builders can move forward on multiple sites at once;
- Providing additional flexibility on affordability, energy efficiency, and accessibility requirements; and
- Launching a new frequent builder stream to fast-track the application process for proven home builders.
- Launching Canada Builds – partnering with provinces and territories to build more rental housing across the country. The federal government is leveraging its $55 billion Apartment Construction Loan Program by making it available to support partnerships with provinces and territories that launch their own ambitious housing plans, similar to the recently announced BC Builds initiative. In order to access federal financing, provinces and territories will be expected to meet the benchmarks set by BC Builds and deliver action to build even more homes. These actions include:
- Complementing federal funds with provincial or territorial investments into housing;
- Building on government, non-profit, community-owned, and vacant lands;
- Streamlining the process to cut development approval timelines to no longer than 12 to 18 months; and
- Meeting all criteria included in the Apartment Construction Loan Program, including affordability requirements.
Communities across the country are facing housing pressures. The measures announced today will make it easier, cheaper, and faster to build homes in Canada. For students, it will mean getting the keys to their first home and living close to campus. For young families, it will mean getting a good home near work, opportunity, and in a vibrant neighbourhood. And for seniors, it will mean an affordable place where you can downsize with security and dignity. We’re encouraging provinces and territories to partner with us on these ambitious housing plans to get more homes built, faster.
Yesterday, we announced a new $6 billion Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund and a $400 million top-up to the Housing Accelerator Fund to ensure communities have the infrastructure they need to grow and build more homes. These are just a few of the things that we are going to be doing in Budget 2024 to bring down the cost of rent and unlock homeownership. Alongside these measures, we’re protecting renters, investing in health care, improving access to child care, making life more affordable, and creating good jobs, to make sure every generation can get ahead.
Quotes
“With Budget 2024, we’re making it easier, cheaper, and faster to build more homes in Canada. Today’s announcement will cut red tape, speed up development, and build more homes, so that Canadians – from teachers, to nurses, to construction workers – can afford to stay in the communities where they work. It’s making the housing market fairer for every generation.”
“To fix Canada’s housing challenges, we need a Team Canada effort – every order of government must use every lever at its disposal to build more homes, faster. Today, our government is coming to the table with billions in low-cost financing available for provinces and territories that step up to ambitious plans, as British Columbia is doing by cutting the time it takes to get shovels in the ground so they can build at pace and at scale right away.”
“Today’s announcement marks another step in our work to end Canada’s housing crisis once and for all. It will speed up development, make construction cheaper, get projects off the shelves, and shovels in the ground. It will mean more homes for middle-class Canadians at prices they can afford.”
Quick Facts
- The Government of Canada’s Budget 2024 will be tabled in the House of Commons by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
- In recent days, the Prime Minister announced Budget 2024 would also:
- Restore generational fairness for renters, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, by taking new action to protect renters’ rights and unlock pathways for them to become homeowners. Learn more.
- Save more young families money and help more moms return to their careers by building more affordable child care spaces and training more early childhood educators across Canada. Learn more.
- Create a National School Food Program to ensure every child has the best start in life, with the food they need to learn and grow, no matter their circumstances. Learn more.
- Launch a new $6 billion Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund to accelerate the construction or upgrade of essential infrastructure across the country and get more homes built for Canadians. Learn more.
- The Apartment Construction Loan Program boosts the construction of new rental homes by providing low-cost financing to homebuilders. It supports the development of accessible and sustainable living spaces to help alleviate housing shortages and improve community stability and economic growth. Since its launch in 2017, the program has committed over $18 billion in loans to support the creation of more than 48,000 new rental homes. With today’s announcement, which brings its total funding to over $55 billion, the Apartment Construction Loan Program is on track to help build over 131,000 new rental homes across Canada by 2031-32.
- Announced in February, British Columbia’s BC Builds program will provide more than $2 billion in provincial financing and commit $950 million to build thousands of middle-class rental homes. On February 20, 2024, the Prime Minister announced that the federal government would help increase the impact of the program by providing up to $2 billion in low-cost loans through the Apartment Construction Loan Program. Combined, the federal and provincial investments will help build a minimum of 8,000 to 10,000 additional new homes for the middle class. As more land is secured, thousands more units will be built – fast‑tracking construction and ensuring that more of these homes are available at below-market rates.
- BC Builds leverages government, community, non-profit owned, and under-used land to speed up the delivery of housing and help bring costs down for middle-income households. All BC Builds projects have a target of middle-income households spending no more than 30 per cent of their income on rent.
- The federal government’s plan to build more homes faster and make housing more affordable also includes:
- The Affordable Housing Fund, a $14+ billion initiative that supports the creation of new market and below-market rental housing and the repair and renewal of existing housing. It is designed to attract partnerships and investments to develop projects that meet a broad spectrum of housing needs, from shelters to affordable homeownership. As of December 31, 2023, the Fund has committed $8+ billion to repair or renew over 150,000 homes and support the construction of more than 32,000 new homes.
- The Housing Accelerator Fund, a $4 billion initiative that will be topped up with an additional $400 million in Budget 2024 to encourage municipalities to incentivize building by making transformative changes, such as removing prohibitive zoning barriers. To date, the federal government has signed 179 Housing Accelerator Fund agreements which, combined, will fast-track an estimated total of over 750,000 housing units across the country over the next decade.
- The Rapid Housing Initiative, a $4 billion fund that is fast-tracking the construction of 15,500 new affordable homes for people experiencing homelessness or in severe housing need by 2026. The Rapid Housing Initiative also supports the acquisition of existing buildings for the purpose of rehabilitation or conversion to permanent affordable housing units, focusing on the housing needs of the most vulnerable, including people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, women fleeing domestic violence, seniors, Indigenous Peoples, and persons with disabilities.
- Progress on these and other programs and initiatives under Canada’s National Housing Strategy are updated quarterly at www.placetocallhome.ca. The Housing Funding Initiatives Map shows affordable housing projects that have been developed.
- Since 2015, the federal government has helped almost two million Canadians find a place to call home.
April 2, 2024
Greater Halifax Area, Nova Scotia
Everyone deserves to succeed. But today, for too many Canadians, especially Millennials and Gen Z, your hard work isn’t paying off like it did for previous generations. Your paycheque doesn’t go as far as costs go up, and saving enough seems harder and harder. It doesn’t have to be this way. Every generation should get a fair chance to get ahead.
One of the biggest pressures on young people right now is housing. Faced with a shortage of housing options and increasingly high rent and home prices, it feels like the deck is stacked against them. But it doesn’t have to be – with a Team Canada effort, we can change that. We need to bring home prices back within reach by increasing housing supply right across the board – and quickly. We’ve already taken bold action to build more homes, faster, improve access to housing, and make homes more affordable – and we know there is more to be done. That means cutting red tape to fast-track construction, but also building the infrastructure to support more homes in vibrant, liveable, and growing communities.
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced key measures from the upcoming Budget 2024 to cut red tape, build more homes, and help communities grow.
These measures include:
- Topping-up the Housing Accelerator Fund with an additional $400 million, so more municipalities can cut red tape, fast-track home construction, and invest in affordable housing. Since launching the now $4.4 billion Housing Accelerator Fund last year, the federal government has signed 179 agreements across the country to fast-track more than 750,000 homes over the next decade. Today’s $400 million top-up will fast-track an additional 12,000 new homes in the next three years.
- Launching a new $6 billion Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund to accelerate the construction and upgrading of critical housing infrastructure. This includes water, wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste infrastructure to support the construction of more homes. This fund will include:
- $1 billion available for municipalities to support urgent infrastructure needs that will directly create more housing.
- $5 billion for agreements with provinces and territories to support long-term priorities. Provinces and territories can only access this funding if they commit to key actions that increase housing supply:
- Require municipalities to broadly adopt four units as-of-right and allow more “missing middle” homes, including duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, and other multi-unit apartments.
- Implement a three-year freeze on increasing development charges from April 2, 2024, levels for municipalities with a population greater than 300,000.
- Adopt forthcoming changes to the National Building Code to support more accessible, affordable, and climate-friendly housing options.
- Require as-of-right construction for the government’s upcoming Housing Design Catalogue.
- Implement measures from the Home Buyers’ Bill of Rights and Renters’ Bill of Rights.
- Provinces will have until January 1, 2025, to secure an agreement, and territories will have until April 1, 2025. If a province or territory does not secure an agreement by their respective deadline, their funding allocation will be transferred to the municipal stream. The federal government will work with territorial governments to ensure the actions in their agreements are suitable to their distinct needs.
- Announcing that, to access long-term, predictable funding for public transit through the federal government’s forthcoming public transit fund, municipalities will be required to take action that will directly unlock housing supply. This includes measures to:
- Eliminate all mandatory minimum parking requirements within 800 metres of a high-frequency transit line.
- Allow high-density housing within 800 metres of a high-frequency transit line.
- Allow high-density housing within 800 metres of post-secondary institutions.
- Complete a Housing Needs Assessment for all communities with a population greater than 30,000.
This is about making homes more affordable by increasing supply and making the housing market fairer – for renters, for homeowners, and for Canadians trying to find a place of their own. Growing communities need quality infrastructure in order to build more homes, faster – and we are there to support them with these generational investments.
We are working with provinces, territories, and municipalities to remove barriers to home building, including by allowing multiplexes as-of-right, encouraging affordable rentals, speeding up permitting and approvals processes, and building affordable homes near public transit stations, especially for students, seniors, and young families. We’re not just building homes, faster – we’re building communities from the ground up.
No single player can fill Canada’s housing shortage on its own. More must be done and all of Team Canada – the federal government, provinces and territories, Indigenous partners, cities and towns, the private sector, labour, and non-profits – must work together to ensure everyone has an affordable place to call home.
Alongside today’s action to build more homes, we’re protecting renters, delivering stronger public health care, making life more affordable, and creating good jobs, to make sure every generation can get ahead. We will be announcing further action to do this, and especially to build more homes, faster – to ensure no generation is left behind.
Quotes
“We need more affordable homes, and we need the infrastructure to help build these homes. That’s why in Budget 2024, we’re building more infrastructure, building more homes, and helping more Canadians find a place to call their own. This is about fairness ‒ making sure communities have the safe, quality housing they need to get ahead.”
“Since we launched the Housing Accelerator Fund last year, we have cut enough red tape to build 750,000 new homes over the next decade. It is working, so we are investing another $400 million to build even more homes, faster in more communities across the country. Alongside these essential zoning reforms, we are helping communities build the infrastructure needed to build more homes, by investing $6 billion through our new Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund. We are putting homeownership back within reach for every generation, and especially for Millennials and Gen Z.”
“Since launching the Housing Accelerator Fund, we have been working directly with communities across the country to dramatically change how homes are built within them, to ensure that people have the homes they need at prices they can afford. There is more work to do, and the announcements made today will go a long way toward ending Canada’s housing crisis and ensuring that more Canadians have a place to call their own.”
Quick Facts
- The Government of Canada’s Budget 2024 will be tabled in the House of Commons by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
- In recent days, the Prime Minister announced Budget 2024 would also:
- Restore generational fairness for renters, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, by taking new action to protect renters’ rights and unlock pathways for them to become homeowners.
- Save more young families money and help more moms return to their careers by building more affordable child care spaces and training more early childhood educators across Canada.
- Create a National School Food Program to ensure every child has the best start in life, with the food they need to learn and grow, no matter their circumstances.
- The federal government recognizes and respects the unique approach required for investing in housing and infrastructure in Quebec.
- On November 9, 2023, we signed a historic Housing Accelerator Fund agreement with the Province of Quebec.
- Building on the success of the 2023 agreement, the federal government will continue to work closely with Quebec to build more homes for Quebecers, including by delivering additional funding through the Housing Accelerator Fund and the new Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund.
- The federal government is also providing support to help growing communities build the infrastructure needed to build more homes through the Canada Community-Building Fund and the Canada Infrastructure Bank:
- Since 2015, the Canada Community-Building Fund has provided $24.2 billion to 3,600 communities across the country. The Fund has supported important infrastructure projects to help communities across the country become more livable for generations to come, such as the revitalization of the historic downtown in Oakville, Ontario, the broadband connectivity project in the Regional District of Central Kootenay, British Columbia, and upgrades to the water system in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
- Since 2017, the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) has made investment commitments of over $11 billion in more than 50 projects, and catalyzed over $31 billion in total investment, to address critical infrastructure gaps in communities across the country. This includes supporting improved public transit, broadband, clean power, and green infrastructure. Last week, the CIB introduced its new Infrastructure for Housing Initiative, designed to improve communities’ access to the low-cost financing needed to build housing-enabling infrastructure.
- Canada’s economic plan is to build more homes faster and to make housing more affordable. This plan also includes:
- The Apartment Construction Loan Program, a $40+ billion initiative that boosts the construction of new rental homes by providing low-cost financing to homebuilders. Since 2017, the Apartment Construction Loan Program has committed over $18 billion in loans to support the creation of more than 48,000 new rental homes. It is on track to build 101,000 new rental homes across Canada by 2031-32.
- The Affordable Housing Fund, a $14+ billion initiative that supports the creation of new market and below-market rental housing and the repair and renewal of existing housing. It is designed to attract partnerships and investments to develop projects that meet a broad spectrum of housing needs, from shelters to affordable homeownership. As of December 31, 2023, the Fund has committed $8+ billion to repair or renew over 150,000 homes and support the construction of more than 32,000 new homes.
- The Rapid Housing Initiative, a $4 billion fund that is fast-tracking the construction of 15,500 new affordable homes for people experiencing homelessness or in severe housing need by 2026. The Rapid Housing Initiative also supports the acquisition of existing buildings for the purpose of rehabilitation or conversion to permanent affordable housing units, focusing on the housing needs of the most vulnerable, including people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, women fleeing domestic violence, seniors, Indigenous Peoples, and persons with disabilities.
- Progress on these and other programs and initiatives under Canada’s National Housing Strategy are updated quarterly at www.placetocallhome.ca. The Housing Funding Initiatives Map shows affordable housing projects that have been developed.
- Since 2015, the federal government has helped almost two million Canadians find a place to call home.
April 1, 2024
Scarborough, Ontario
Every generation deserves a fair, healthy future – from kids, to parents, to grandparents. It’s why we’re supporting families, one of the many things that we are doing in Budget 2024 to build an economy that helps every generation get ahead.
Children deserve to have the best start in life. But today, nearly one in four children in Canada do not get enough food. That impacts their health and their opportunities to learn and grow. Higher grocery prices are making it hard for parents to afford to put enough good, healthy food on the table. Study after study has shown that when kids eat well, they do better in school. And when kids do well, that sets them up for success. Everyone deserves a fair shot at success, and we believe that fairness means we support each other at every stage of life – and that starts from childhood.
That’s why we’ve made generational investments like the Canada Child Benefit, which provides families with up to nearly $8,000 per child, per year, to provide the essentials their kids need. And since 2015, 650,000 children have been lifted out of poverty, meaning Canada’s child poverty rate has fallen by more than half.
And when it comes to helping kids, especially vulnerable kids, we’re going to keep going.
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced a new National School Food Program. With an investment of $1 billion over five years, the Program, included in Budget 2024, will launch with a target of providing meals to 400,000 more kids every year, beyond those served by existing school food programs. For moms and dads, it will mean the peace of mind that your kids are taken care of and do not go hungry. For kids, it will mean healthy meals – helping them learn, grow, and reach their full potential. This is a generational investment in the future of our kids, and we’re going to work with provinces and territories and Indigenous partners to ensure every child has the food they need.
The Program will be a safety net for the kids who need this support the most. The lack of access to food disproportionately impacts children from lower-income families and from racialized and Indigenous communities. With this program, we’re getting healthy food on the plates of growing kids.
This includes investments for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities as well as Self-Governing and Modern Treaty partners, many of whom have some of the highest rates of food insecurity in Canada. Investments will also support capacity building and engagement with Indigenous partners to co-develop culturally appropriate solutions. These partnerships will aim to tackle food insecurity by advancing Indigenous-led solutions and will further our work on reconciliation.
The new National School Food Program will also help provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners expand their existing school food programs to make sure more children across the country can enjoy the healthy meals they need. The Program is good for parents and kids, and it’s good for the economy as well. It will help take pressure off of families and invest directly in the future of our kids, while improving children’s health, education, and well-being.
Last week, we announced measures to protect renters and create more affordable child care spaces. This is on top of our actions to improve health care and dental care, strengthen pensions, and increase access to medications – making sure that, no matter your background or income, you have what you need to be healthy. We all depend on Canada’s future success. And Canada’s success depends on the youngest generations being healthy, doing well, and being set up to succeed.
Quotes
“The National School Food Program is a game changer. The Program will take pressure off of families, invest directly in the future of our kids, and make sure they’re able to reach their full potential – feeling healthy and happy. This is about fairness and doing what’s right for our kids to get the best start in life.”
“Since 2015, we’ve reduced child poverty from 16.3 per cent to just 6.4 per cent in 2021 – lifting 650,000 kids out of poverty. Today, the rising price of groceries is making it tough for families, especially Millennial parents, to afford the food their kids need. To make sure every kid gets their fair chance at a great start in life, we’re launching a $1 billion National School Food Program to help another 400,000 kids get the food they need to thrive.”
“We’re creating a National School Food Program because kids learn better on a full stomach. This Program will have an incredible impact, supporting parents with the higher cost of groceries, and giving children every opportunity to learn, grow, and reach their full potential.”
Quick Facts
- The Government of Canada’s Budget 2024 will be tabled in the House of Commons by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
- In recent days, the Prime Minister announced new action in advance of Budget 2024 to ensure fairness for every generation. Budget 2024 will:
- Restore generational fairness for renters, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, by taking new action to protect renters’ rights and unlock pathways for them to become homeowners.
- Save money for more families and help more moms return to their careers by building more affordable child care spaces and providing training to early childhood educators across Canada.
- Nearly one in four children do not get enough food, and that has a real impact on their opportunities to learn and grow. According to studies, students who consistently consumed a nutritious breakfast attained higher grades in reading, math, and science compared to their peers who seldom or never did.
- Evidence shows that school meal programs act as social equalizers. They are also part of a comprehensive approach to equity and support for children and their families. Their benefits include:
- reducing hunger, food insecurity, and health inequities;
- supporting students’ attendance, academic outcomes, and achievement;
- supporting families by reducing food costs and the time required to prepare school lunches; and,
- supporting local farmers, local economies, as well as sustainable food systems and practices.
- To give every child the best start in life, the federal government is also:
- Giving families more money through the Canada Child Benefit to help with the costs of raising children and make a real difference in the lives of kids in Canada. The Canada Child Benefit, which is providing up to $7,437 per child in 2023-24, is indexed annually to keep up with the cost of living and has helped lift more than half a million children out of poverty since its launch in 2016.
- Delivering an early learning and child care system across all provinces and territories, which has already cut fees for regulated child care to an average of $10-a-day or less in over half of all provinces and territories, and by 50 per cent or more in all others.
- Improving access to dental health care for children under the age of 12 through the Canada Dental Benefit, and soon for children under 18 with the Canadian Dental Care Plan, because no one should have to choose between taking care of their kids’ teeth and putting food on the table.
April 1, 2024
Ottawa, Ontario
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force:
“Today, as we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), I join Canadians to pay tribute to the generations of Air Force members who have dedicated their lives to defending our peace, freedom, and prosperity.
“In times of war and peace, members of the RCAF have shown unwavering courage. The Second World War marked the first significant challenge for the RCAF, with over 200,000 Canadians joining the Air Force to fight against tyranny and fascism. Since then, generation after generation of Canadians have served – from Afghanistan to the Arctic. The RCAF’s contributions to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Canadian Space Program, and United Nations peacekeeping operations demonstrate its enduring commitment to service. Here at home, the RCAF has supported Canadians by delivering disaster relief, including during last year’s devastating wildfire season.
“As we continue to face threats to global stability, the RCAF is more important than ever. That is why the Government of Canada has invested $44 billion over the past 16 months to provide the RCAF with 138 new or refurbished aircraft – from a new fleet of fighter jets to new multi-mission aircraft. This strategic investment is the largest recapitalization of the RCAF in a generation, and it will ensure that the RCAF is well positioned to contribute to operations at home and abroad for decades to come.
“In February 2023, the RCAF launched the Royal Canadian Air Force Strategy to help build a more agile, integrated, and inclusive air and space force that can face tomorrow’s challenges. By investing in the professional and personal growth of RCAF members, we are giving them the tools they need to achieve excellence at home and abroad. Our people are our number one priority and are the foundation upon which we build the RCAF.
“On this centennial occasion, I invite Canadians to learn more about the RCAF’s many achievements and to take part in activities celebrating this milestone anniversary. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to the families who have stood behind RCAF members over the last century, sharing in their sacrifices and triumphs. To all Royal Canadian Air Force personnel, past and present: thank you for your service. Your dedication, courage, and selflessness have kept – and continue to keep – our country safe.
“Sic itur ad astra.”
March 31, 2024
Ottawa, Ontario
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Easter:
“Today, millions of Christians in Canada and around the world will celebrate Easter.
“Commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Easter is a celebration of rebirth and beginning anew. The resurrection of Christ provides hope for our past, present, and future. It serves as an enduring reminder of the power of belief, forgiveness, and resilience. As the holiest day in the Christian calendar, Easter invites us to reflect on the values Christ lived by and died for, and to reaffirm these values in our lives – from loving our neighbours to taking care of those most vulnerable.
“Whether you celebrate this weekend by attending church services, organizing your own Easter egg hunt, or simply enjoying quality time with your loved ones, I hope you find joy in togetherness, and look to the future with hope.
“On this holy day, we also reflect on the contributions Canadians of Christian faith of all backgrounds make to our country. With kindness and selflessness, they give back to their communities and help make Canada the diverse, inclusive, and welcoming place we know and love.
“On behalf of my family, I wish a happy and blessed Easter to everyone celebrating today.”
March 29, 2024
Ottawa, Ontario
Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron.
The Prime Minister and the President welcomed the political agreement among Haitian stakeholders and emphasized the importance of re-stablishing democratic order in Haiti. They discussed the recent developments, reiterated their support for the United Nations-authorized Multinational Security Support mission to restore stability in Haiti, and underscored their commitment to the Haitian people.
The Prime Minister and the President also discussed the long-term commitments of Canada and France to support Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity. They agreed on the need to continue strengthening support for Ukraine.
The two leaders agreed that an immediate humanitarian ceasefire is urgently needed in Gaza and that hostages must be released. They also expressed their concern about the disturbing rise in acts targeting Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities in Canada, France, and around the world.
Prime Minister Trudeau and President Macron expressed their appreciation for the strong bilateral relationship between Canada and France. They highlighted the shared priorities of both countries, namely energy transition, security and defence, culture and promotion of the French language, as well as science, research, innovation, and artificial intelligence. The Prime Minister and the President reaffirmed their commitment to the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which has created significant opportunities for businesses and workers in Canada and France. The leaders also discussed common solutions to fishing interests and long-term sustainability.
Prime Minister Trudeau and President Macron looked forward to advancing shared priorities and agreed to remain in regular contact.
Associated Links
- Canada-France relations
- Canada announces $123 million in funding to improve security in Haiti
- Canada announces additional support for Ukraine
- Canada’s response to the crisis in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with President of France Emmanuel Macron
March 28, 2024
Ottawa, Ontario
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that the Prime Minister of France, Gabriel Attal, will travel to Canada from April 10 to 12, 2024.
Canada and France enjoy a strong relationship rooted in close co-operation and shared history, culture, and values.
Prime Minister Attal’s visit to Canada will provide an opportunity to advance our work on shared priorities including climate action, conservation, and building a net zero economy; growing trade; reaffirming our unwavering commitment to promote the French language and francophone cultures; and protecting democracy and human rights around the world – including in support of Ukraine against Russia’s brutal war of aggression.
On April 10 and 11, Prime Minister Attal will be in Ottawa, where he will meet with Prime Minister Trudeau to strengthen bilateral co-operation, with a focus on climate action. Prime Minister Attal will also meet with the Governor General of Canada, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon.
Following the Ottawa portion of his visit, Prime Minister Attal will visit Québec City and Montréal on April 11 and 12.
Quote
“Canada and France are friends united by a shared language, a shared history, and shared values. I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Attal to Canada and to working together to advance some of our shared priorities, from climate action, to trade, to protecting democracy. Together, we can make life better for people on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Quick Facts
- This will be Prime Minister Attal’s first official visit to Canada, and his first official travel outside of the European Union since he became Prime Minister.
- As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the G7, and the G20, a founding member of the European Union, and a leading partner in La Francophonie, France is a key ally for Canada on the international stage.
- In 2023, France was Canada’s third largest merchandise export market in the European Union, and its twelfth-largest trading partner globally, with two-way merchandise trade totalling $12.9 billion.
- In 2023, Canadian exports to France amounted to $4.3 billion, while imports from France totalled $8.6 billion.
- In France, Canada is represented by an embassy in Paris and consulates in Lyon, Nice, and Toulouse. France is represented in Canada by its embassy in Ottawa and consulates in Vancouver, Toronto, Montréal, Québec City, and Moncton.
Associated Links
- Canada-France relations
- Canada-France Climate and Environment Partnership
- Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
March 27, 2024
Vancouver, British Columbia
Everyone deserves to succeed. But today, for too many younger Canadians, doing as well as your parents or better – doesn’t seem possible. The middle-class dream feels out of reach. Your hard work isn’t paying off like it did for previous generations. Your paycheque doesn’t go as far as costs go up, and saving enough to go after your dreams seems harder and harder. It doesn’t have to be this way. Everyone deserves a fair shot at success.
One of the biggest pressures on young people right now is housing. This is particularly true for renters – where it feels like the deck is stacked against them. They are facing skyrocketing rents, renovictions, unfair competition, and a lack of housing options. While we’ve taken bold action to build more homes, faster, improve access to housing, and make homes more affordable, we know there is more to be done.
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced measures from the upcoming Budget 2024 to make the playing field fairer for renters and make it easier for them to become homeowners.
These measures include:
- Launching a new $15 million Tenant Protection Fund. This would provide funding to provincial legal aid organizations to better protect tenants against unfairly rising rent payments, renovictions, or bad landlords.
- Creating a new Canadian Renters’ Bill of Rights, developed and implemented in partnership with provinces and territories. This would require landlords to disclose a clear history of apartment pricing so renters can bargain fairly. We will also crack down on renovictions, create a nationwide standard lease agreement, and give renters more agency.
- Making sure renters get credit for on-time rent payments. Renters deserve credit for the money they put toward rent over the years, especially when it comes time to apply for a mortgage for their first home. We’re going to amend the Canadian Mortgage Charter and call on landlords, banks, credit bureaus, and fintech companies to make sure that rental history is taken into account in your credit score.
This is about protecting renters. But this is also about generational fairness – making sure Millennials and Gen Z, who are most likely to rent, get a level playing field in the rental market. This is just one of the things that we are going to be doing in this budget to build an economy that is fair for every generation. Alongside these measures, we’re building more homes faster, making life more affordable, and creating good jobs, to make sure every generation can get ahead. We will relentlessly fight for Canadians – taking concrete action to strengthen the middle class and make life better for everyone.
Quotes
“It’s too hard to find an affordable place to rent, especially for younger Canadians. That’s why in Budget 2024, we’re taking action to protect renters, make the rental market fairer, and open new pathways for renters to become homeowners. Let’s make sure renters count.”
“Renters are facing rising rents across the country, and they need support today. Budget 2024 will take action to deliver generational fairness, help renters – who are increasingly younger Canadians – become homeowners, and ensure they aren’t alone when they have to defend their right to a place to call home. Renters deserve credit for the money they put toward rent over the years. We’re helping them get credit for rental payments so they can qualify for a mortgage, or even a lower rate, sooner and unlock the door to their first home.”
Quick Facts
- The Government of Canada’s Budget 2024 will be tabled in the House of Commons by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
- The measures outlined above build on the progress we have already made to help renters become homeowners, address the unique challenges they face, and build more rental housing across Canada, including:
- Launching the Tax-Free First Home Savings Account, which is already helping over 500,000 Canadians save faster for their first downpayment.
- Removing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from new rental housing to incentivize the construction of more apartment buildings, student housing, and seniors’ residences built for long-term rental accommodation.
- Unlocking $20 billion in new financing to support up to 30,000 more rental apartments per year by increasing the annual limit for Canada Mortgage Bonds from $40 billion to up to $60 billion.
- Helping low-income Canadians with the cost of housing by delivering direct rent support through the Canada Housing Benefit, an initiative jointly funded and co-developed with provinces and territories. The federal government recently announced a $99 million top-up to this benefit to make rent more affordable for Canadians. By 2027-28, the Canada Housing Benefit is expected to have helped over 300,000 low-income households with the cost of rent.
- Canada’s economic plan is to build more homes faster and to make housing more affordable. This plan also includes:
- The Apartment Construction Loan Program, a $40+ billion initiative that boosts the construction of new rental homes by providing low-cost financing to homebuilders. Since 2017, the Apartment Construction Loan Program has committed over $17 billion in loans to support the creation of more than 48,000 new rental homes. It is on track to build 101,000 new rental homes across Canada by 2031-32.
- The Affordable Housing Fund, a $14+ billion initiative that supports the creation of new market and below-market rental housing and the repair and renewal of existing housing. It is designed to attract partnerships and investments to develop projects that meet a broad spectrum of housing needs, from shelters to affordable homeownership. As of December 31, 2023, the Fund has committed $8+ billion to repair or renew over 150,000 homes and support the construction of more than 32,000 new homes.
- The Housing Accelerator Fund, a $4 billion initiative that encourages municipalities to incentivize building by making transformative changes, such as removing prohibitive zoning barriers. To date, the federal government has signed 179 Housing Accelerator Fund agreements which, combined, will fast-track an estimated total of over 750,000 housing units across the country over the next decade.
- The Rapid Housing Initiative, a $4 billion fund that is fast-tracking the construction of 15,500 new affordable homes for people experiencing homelessness or in severe housing need by 2026. The Rapid Housing Initiative also supports the acquisition of existing buildings for the purpose of rehabilitation or conversion to permanent affordable housing units, focusing on the housing needs of the most vulnerable, including people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, women fleeing domestic violence, seniors, Indigenous Peoples, and persons with disabilities.
- Progress on these and other programs and initiatives under Canada’s National Housing Strategy are updated quarterly at www.placetocallhome.ca. The Housing Funding Initiatives Map shows affordable housing projects that have been developed.
- Since 2015, the federal government has helped almost two million Canadians find a place to call home.
March 25, 2024
Ottawa, Ontario
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Holi:
“Today, we join Hindu communities in Canada and around the world to celebrate Holi, also known as the Festival of Colours.
“Holi symbolizes renewal, forgiveness, and the triumph of good over evil. On this day, people gather on the streets, listen to festive music, and splash each other with brightly coloured water and powders. It is an occasion to come together with friends and family, and to celebrate each other.
“On this Holi, we are reminded of the diverse cultures that make Canada the country we love. Canadians of Hindu faith have made – and continue to make – immense contributions to our national identity. Today, and every day, we recognize the important role they play in building stronger and more vibrant communities across the country.
“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I wish a very colourful and joyous festival to all those celebrating.
“Holi Hai!”
