Statement by the Prime Minister on the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism
June 23, 2024
Ottawa, Ontario
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism:
"Today, we remember and honour every Canadian whose life was cut short or forever changed by a terrorist attack.
“Thirty-nine years ago today, 329 innocent people, including 280 Canadians, tragically lost their lives when a bomb, planted on Air India Flight 182 in Canada, exploded mid-flight. This remains the deadliest terrorist attack in Canadian history. It reminds us of the senseless violence that terrorism perpetuates and of our shared responsibility to unequivocally condemn terrorism.
“Canada is doing its part to counter terrorism and violent extremism. We are updating our Counter-Terrorism Strategy to ensure it remains modern and effective. Through the Canada Centre for Community Engagement and Prevention of Violence, we’re working with other levels of government and partners to build and share knowledge, fund and coordinate research, and support prevention efforts and interventions.
“Through the Community Resilience Fund, we’re providing funding to organizations that help improve our understanding of violent extremism and our capacity to prevent these acts of violence. And earlier this week, we announced the listing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity under Canada’s Criminal Code. We will continue to work with our allies and partners, at home and around the world, to better detect, prevent, and respond to the threat of terrorism.
“On this day – and every day – we stand united against hate, intolerance, and division. We reaffirm Canada’s determination to fight against violent extremism and keep our people safe.”
June 22, 2024
Ottawa, Ontario
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today welcomed the appointment of Christine Ivory as the new Parliamentary Librarian. This appointment is effective October 21, 2024.
In this role, Ms. Ivory will oversee the management of the Library of Parliament, whose collection and services support the activities and decisions of Parliament and parliamentarians. She will report to the Speakers of the Senate and the House of Commons.
Biographical Note
Associated Link
June 21, 2024
Ottawa, Ontario
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on National Indigenous Peoples Day:
“Today, on National Indigenous Peoples Day, we celebrate the rich histories, heritage, and resilience of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis across Canada. Celebrated on the first day of summer, this day is of great significance for Indigenous Peoples. It’s a day to celebrate the mosaic of traditions, languages, and cultures that have shaped and continue to shape Canada. Many Indigenous communities will hold ceremonies with cultural celebrations, vibrant displays of art, and traditional storytelling.
“Despite past attempts by Canada to erase Indigenous cultures, traditions, and languages, Indigenous Peoples persevered. Today, we celebrate their achievements, their courage, and their unwavering resilience.
“I spent the day in We’koqma’q, Nova Scotia, where we announced the delivery of more than $16 million per year in increased funding to Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey to maintain, repair, and replace their existing education infrastructure. This funding will help ensure communities, including approximately 3,000 students, have the resources they need to succeed while remaining connected to Mi’kmaw culture and language. It will support improved quality of life, reduce poverty, and build a more resilient and fair local economy.
“A fairer future for every generation of Indigenous Peoples includes better access to education and good-paying jobs. With renewed Nation-to-Nation, Government-to-Government, and Inuit-Crown relationships, we are creating thousands of jobs, generating economic opportunity for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, and closing the education infrastructure gaps that have affected Indigenous communities for far too long. Our government is here as a partner.
“One year ago today, we released the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan 2023-2028. Developed in consultation and co-operation with First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Modern Treaty Partners from across Canada, the Action Plan serves as our roadmap to achieving lasting change in our relationship with Indigenous Peoples. With Budget 2024, we’re building on this work by introducing new measures to support Indigenous communities in accessing culturally appropriate health care as well as education, housing, and economic opportunities.
“Today also marks the fifth anniversary of the Indigenous Languages Act, a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to reclaim, revitalize, maintain, and strengthen Indigenous languages across the country. Languages are a source of strength and renewal for Indigenous Peoples, and through Budget 2024, we’re making investments that support Indigenous communities in preserving their languages and ensuring they’re never lost again.
“On National Indigenous Peoples Day, I invite Canadians to learn more about Indigenous cultures, participate in an event, and join the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #NIPD2024. Let us commit to celebrating Indigenous contributions, Indigenous ways of knowing and being, and Indigenous traditions – every single day. And let us challenge ourselves, as a country, to reconcile our past and build a better, fairer future – together.”
June 21, 2024
Ottawa, Ontario
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the passing of James K. Irving:
“It is with sadness that I learned today of the passing of James K. Irving, a successful Canadian business leader and entrepreneur.
“A proud New Brunswicker, Mr. Irving was a job creator for his province and across the country. Under his leadership, J.D. Irving became one of Canada’s top employers – and Mr. Irving became a symbol of Canadian entrepreneurship and philanthropy.
“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I offer my deepest condolences to Mr. Irving’s family, friends, and those close to him. He will always be remembered and deeply missed.”
June 20, 2024
Westville, Nova Scotia
Every child deserves the best start in life. But today, too many children in Canada don’t get the food they need. Study after study has shown that kids learn better on a full stomach. That’s why school food programs are so important – they support families and help kids get the nutrition they need to learn and grow.
With Budget 2024, we’re making sure every generation gets a fair, healthy future – starting right from childhood.
Today, the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, unveiled the federal government’s National School Food Policy, which outlines our plan to create and deliver the National School Food Program across Canada.
With an investment of $1 billion over five years, the National School Food Program, included in Budget 2024, will provide meals to up to 400,000 more kids every year, beyond those served by existing school food programs. This will mean peace of mind for parents and healthy meals for kids – helping them learn, grow, and get the best start in life. On average, the National School Food Program is expected to save participating families with two kids up to $800 a year in grocery bills.
The new Policy sets out a vision, principles, and objectives for school food programming across Canada, and will guide the creation of the National School Food Program in collaboration with provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners, with a focus on accessibility, flexibility, inclusivity, sustainability, and better health.
The National School Food Program is part of our work to support families and make life cost less. This includes the Canada Child Benefit, which is providing families with up to $7,437 per child this benefit year, Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care, which has already reduced fees for regulated child care by half on average across the country, and the Canadian Dental Care Plan, which will make trips to the dentist more affordable for up to 9 million uninsured Canadians. Confident countries invest in themselves, and these investments grow and build our communities, our families, and our economy.
These are just some of the things that we’re doing in Budget 2024 to build a better and fairer future for every generation. We’re also building more homes, improving health care, and investing in innovation – so that every Canadian has a fair chance to succeed.
Quotes
“Fairness for every generation starts right from childhood. Supported by this new policy, our National School Food Program is a direct investment in the future of our kids. This will support families, parents, and kids by providing school meals, so our youngest can reach their full potential – feeling healthy and happy.”
— The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
“Today, the rising price of groceries is making it tough for families, especially Millennial and Gen Z parents, to afford the food their kids need. Our new $1 billion National School Food Program will help 400,000 more kids get the food they need to thrive ‒ so that every single child across Canada can have a fair chance at a good, healthy life.”
— The Hon. Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
“Fairness for every generation means we support each other at every stage of life – and that starts from childhood. The National School Food Policy is a roadmap to supporting parents with the higher cost of groceries and getting more healthy food on the plates of growing kids so they can focus on learning and reach their full potential.”
— The Hon. Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
“No child should be left with an empty stomach and no parent should have to worry about whether their child will be hungry at school. That’s why we launched the National School Food Program, to ensure that children in every community are healthy and happy in school.”
— The Hon. Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
Quick Facts
- The $1 billion National School Food Program includes investments that will support school food programming 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 develop culturally appropriate solutions. These partnerships will aim to tackle food insecurity by advancing Indigenous-led solutions and will further our work on reconciliation.
- School food programs provide children and youth with meals and snacks at school, often at no-to-low cost for participating families. Providing food to children and youth provides many benefits, including reducing hunger, improving nutrition and health outcomes, supporting local economies, and reducing food-related spending for families.
- According to Statistics Canada estimates, in 2022, 22.3 per cent of families and more than 2.1 million children under the age of 18 in Canada reported experiencing some level of food insecurity over the past 12 months.
- To give every child the best start in life, Budget 2024 is also:
- Increasing training for early childhood educators. We’re investing $10 million over two years to train more early childhood educators, building up the talent needed for the expansion of affordable, high-quality child care.
- Improving child care access for military families. Military service often demands frequent moves and deployments, making quality child care more than just a convenience. Budget 2024 invests $100 million over five years to provide Canadian Armed Forces personnel and their families with better access to child care on bases across Canada.
- Launching a new Youth Mental Health Fund to ensure that younger generations have the access they need to mental health supports, so they can have a healthy start to adulthood. Budget 2024 proposes an investment of $500 million over five years to ensure youth have access to mental health supports in their community.
- Ensuring a brighter and more prosperous future for First Nations children, youth, and communities with a proposed new investment of $1.2 billion in First Nations’ kindergarten to grade 12 education and $242.7 million to increase access to post-secondary education for First Nations students.
- Keeping our children safe by protecting them from online harm. Budget 2024 proposes an investment of $7.5 million over three years, starting in 2024-25, to the Public Health Agency of Canada to support Kids Help Phone in their work providing mental health, counselling, and crisis support to young people.
Associated Links
- National School Food Policy
- National School Food Program
- Giving every child the best start in life
- Fairness for Every Generation
June 20, 2024
Ottawa, Ontario
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on World Refugee Day:
“Last year saw the world’s largest-ever increase in forced displacement, with over 117 million people fleeing their communities, losing their homes, and being displaced out of their daily lives. Today, on World Refugee Day, we honour the strength and resilience of those seeking refuge from war, conflict, and persecution and we reaffirm our commitment to protect them.
“Last year, Canada resettled more than 51,000 refugees through federal government-assisted, privately sponsored, and blended refugee sponsorship programs, including at-risk women and girls, ethnic and religious minorities, and human rights defenders. By partnering with organizations like Rainbow Refugee Society and Rainbow Railroad, we are welcoming 2SLGBTQI+ refugees to Canada, because no one should live in fear because of who they love.
“Our collective commitment to help and uplift the most vulnerable will endure. Through the Government of Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026, we’re prioritizing economic growth, supporting family reunification, and responding to humanitarian crises. We’re expanding and aiming to make permanent the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot – helping refugees find work in Canada. And we’re investing $75 million over six years to help countries in Latin America and the Caribbean access the resources they need to support refugees and respond to forced displacement and irregular migration.
“On this World Refugee Day, I invite Canadians to celebrate the strengths and achievements of refugees. Let’s help those who are most in need, because that’s when Canada is at its best.”
Learn more about Canada’s refugee system and how we help refugees and newcomers settle and integrate in Canada.
June 20, 2024
Ottawa, Ontario
Yesterday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Jens Stoltenberg.
Prime Minister Trudeau and Secretary General Stoltenberg discussed Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine and reiterated the importance of continued military, financial, and humanitarian support to the Ukrainian government and people. The leaders underscored Canada’s significant support to Ukraine to date, through the donation of military equipment, training, economic support, and humanitarian assistance.
The Prime Minister and the Secretary General discussed Canada’s contributions to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank, including through Canada’s leadership as the Framework Nation to NATO’s multinational enhanced Forward Presence in Latvia. Prime Minister Trudeau reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to strengthening shared security priorities and increasing defence spending, as announced in Canada’s defence policy update, Our North, Strong and Free, which was released in April.
The Prime Minister and the Secretary General also discussed priorities for the upcoming NATO Summit, which will take place in Washington, D.C., in July, such as increasing support to Ukraine, bolstering defence and deterrence, enhancing industrial defence capacity and co-operation, as well as addressing other ongoing and future transatlantic security threats and challenges.
Prime Minister Trudeau and Secretary General Stoltenberg agreed to staying in close contact and looked forward to meeting again at the NATO Summit.
Associated Links
- Canada and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada’s Defence
- Canada’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
June 19, 2024
Ottawa, Ontario
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the result of South Africa’s national elections:
“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I congratulate Cyril Ramaphosa on his re-election as President of South Africa.
“This year marks the 30th anniversary of the end of apartheid in South Africa – an opportunity to celebrate the values of democracy and freedom. Canada and South Africa’s friendship is built on these values and strengthened by vibrant people-to-people ties and shared work to promote security and prosperity. Over the years, we have worked together to advance democracy, climate action and protection of the environment, clean energy, as well as the promotion of women’s empowerment. We are also partners in health co-operation, science and innovation, and many more shared priorities. And our ties only continue to grow stronger. Canada will always be thankful for the hundreds of South African wildland firefighters deployed in the summer of 2023 to support our communities during this challenging time.
“We will also continue to advance important global issues together through our continued partnership in world forums, such as the G20, the Commonwealth, the United Nations, and the World Trade Organization. Together, we’ll continue to promote democratic and inclusive societies around the world and build a more prosperous future for Canadians and South Africans alike.
“I look forward to continue building on our shared efforts and creating a more peaceful, sustainable future for people in both countries.”
June 19, 2024
Ottawa, Ontario
Yesterday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the Premier of British Columbia, David Eby.
The two leaders discussed shared priorities related to transportation, the environment, and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
The Prime Minister and the Premier recognized the importance of their governments working together on key housing and infrastructure projects. They also agreed to continue working toward decarbonizing key economic sectors and advancing clean growth in British Columbia.
Prime Minister Trudeau and Premier Eby agreed to remain in close contact as they continue to work together on important issues.
Associated Links
- Building more middle-class homes in British Columbia
- Strengthening battery manufacturing in British Columbia to secure good jobs and keep our air clean
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with British Columbia Premier David Eby
June 18, 2024
Ottawa, Ontario
Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman.
The Prime Minister and His Royal Highness discussed the situation in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, including the humanitarian crisis and the ceasefire plan outlined by President Biden. The Prime Minister and Crown Prince also discussed regional stability and the path toward a lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians.
The Prime Minister welcomed Saudi Arabia’s engagement with international efforts to advance peace in Ukraine.
The leaders agreed to continue to work together on strengthening the relationship between Canada and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Associated Links
- Canada-Saudi Arabia relations
- Canada’s response to the crisis in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
- Canada’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman
June 17, 2024
Ottawa, Ontario
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced the following change in the senior ranks of the public service:
Greg Orencsak, currently Deputy Minister of Finance and, concurrently, Chair of the Ontario Financing Authority, Government of Ontario, becomes Deputy Minister of Health, effective August 19, 2024.
The Prime Minister also congratulated Dr. Stephen Lucas, former Deputy Minister of Health, on his retirement from the public service. He thanked him for his extraordinary dedication and service to Canadians throughout his career and wished him all the best in the future.
Biographical Note
June 23, 2024
Ottawa, Ontario
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today welcomed the reappointment of Patrick McDonell as Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons, effective July 1, 2024. Mr. McDonell was first appointed to this role in 2019.
Appointed by the Governor in Council, the Sergeant-at-Arms is a senior official of the House of Commons responsible for the effective and efficient operation of the Chamber of the House of Commons. Under the direction of the Speaker, he performs a number of ceremonial functions and works together closely with the Director of the Parliamentary Protective Service to ensure security both inside and outside the Chamber.
Biographical Note
Associated Link
June 23, 2024
Ottawa, Ontario
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced the appointment of the Honourable Kent H. Davidson, a judge of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta, as the new Chief Justice of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta.
Chief Justice Davidson replaces the Honourable Mary T. Moreau, who was elevated to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Quote
“I wish the Honourable Kent H. Davidson all the best in his new role. His experience and expertise in many areas of the law will bring tremendous value to the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta.”
— The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
Quick Facts
- Chief Justices and Associate Chief Justices in Canada are responsible for the leadership and administration of their courts. They also serve as members of the Canadian Judicial Council, which works to improve the quality of judicial services in the superior courts of Canada.
- Chief Justices and Associate Chief Justices are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of Cabinet and the recommendation of the Prime Minister.
