Summary: Speech from the Throne

Moments ago, Governor General Julie Payette delivered the Speech from the Throne, on behalf of the Government of Canada. The Speech outlined the federal government’s key priorities for the upcoming session of Parliament. Below is a summary, which focuses primarily on measures that will be of interest to RAC members.

The Government’s approach is comprised of four foundational elements:

• Fighting the COVID-19 global pandemic and saving lives.
• Supporting people and businesses through this crisis.
• “Building back better”
• Standing up for who we are as Canadians.

Creating jobs

With the objective of getting more Canadians back to work, the government has committed to:

• Launching a campaign to create more than a million jobs to restore employment to previous levels;
• Creating direct investments in the social sector and infrastructure, immediate training to quickly skill-up workers, and incentives for employers to hire and retain workers;
• Extending the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy through to next summer, so workers can remain on the payroll;
• And creating jobs for young Canadians by significantly scaling up the Youth Employment Strategy.

Supporting Workers and Families

When the pandemic hit and Canadians were asked to stay home, the government moved quickly to create the Canada Emergency Benefit so Canadians could continue to pay their bills.

• As the government continues to restart the economy, Canadians who are looking for work will now be supported by the Employment Insurance system.
• For those who wouldn’t traditionally qualify for EI, the government will create a transitional Recovery Benefit.
• Over the coming months, the government will build an EI system that is the sole delivery mechanism for employment benefits, including for those who did not previously qualify and for self-employed Canadians.

Supporting businesses

The government has been committed to helping small businesses weather the pandemic, through programs like the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and helping provide interest free loans.

• This fall, in addition to extending the wage subsidy, the government will take further steps to bridge vulnerable businesses to the other side of the pandemic by:
  • Expanding the Canada Emergency Business Account to help businesses with fixed costs;
  • Improving the Business Credit Availability Program;
  • And introducing further support for industries that have been the hardest hit, including travel and tourism, hospitality, and cultural industries like the performing arts.

Infrastructure Investments

• To build strong communities, the government is committed to investing in all types of infrastructure, including public transit, energy efficient retrofits, clean energy, rural broadband and affordable housing, particularly for Indigenous Peoples and northern communities.
• The government will also continue to work with partners – including directly with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation partners – to address food insecurity in Canada and strengthen local food supply chains.

A Stronger Workforce

The federal government, in partnership with the provinces and territories, has committed to making the largest investment in Canadian history in training for workers.

This will include:

• Supporting Canadians as they build new skills in growing sectors;
• Helping workers to receive education and accreditation;
• And strengthening workers’ futures, by connecting them to employers and good jobs, in order to grow and strengthen the middle class.

Environment & Climate Change

Climate action will be a cornerstone of the government’s plan to support and create a million jobs across the country.

The proposed measures include:

• Immediately bringing forward a plan to exceed Canada’s 2030 climate goal;
• Legislating Canada’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050;
• Creating thousands of jobs retrofitting homes and buildings, cutting energy costs for Canadian families and businesses;
• Investing in reducing the impact of climate-related disasters, like floods and wildfires, to make communities safer and more resilient;
• Helping deliver more transit and active transit options;
• Making zero-emissions vehicles more affordable while investing in more charging stations across the country;
• Launching a new fund to attract investments in making zero-emissions products and cut the corporate tax rate in half for these companies to create jobs and make Canada a world leader in clean technology;
• Transforming how Canada powers its economy and communities by moving forward with the Clean Power Fund, including with projects like the Atlantic Loop that will connect surplus clean power to regions transitioning away from coal;
• Supporting investments in renewable energy and next generation clean energy and technology solutions;
• Supporting manufacturing, natural resource, and energy sectors as they work to transform to meet a net zero future, creating good paying and long-lasting jobs;
• Recognizing farmers, foresters, and ranchers as key partners in the fight against climate change, supporting their efforts to reduce emissions and build resilience.
• And creating a new Canada Water Agency to keep our waters safe, clean, and well managed, and continue to grow Canada’s ocean economy.

Fall Economic Update

• This fall, the government will release an update to Canada’s COVID-19 economic response plan and outline the economic and fiscal position, provide fiscal projections, and set out new measures to implement these investments in the Throne Speech.

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