Juanita Nathan
Pickering—Brooklin, Ontario · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize a constituent and disability advocate from Pickering—Brooklin, Onila Miranda. Onila, who lives with cerebral palsy, has launched an advocacy campaign called “Love is a Human Right” to raise awareness about ableism and call for greater dignity, inclusion and respect for people with disabilities.”
“Mr. Speaker, as we recognize Seniors Month, I rise today to highlight that this Saturday, June 13, marks Canada's National Long-Term Care Day. This year's theme, caring across Canada, celebrates the residents, families, staff, volunteers and advocates who make long-term care communities strong from coast to coast to coast.”
“It would strengthen the criminal law in ways that respond directly to what survivors, advocates and frontline professionals have long told us about how gender-based violence actually occurs. (1940) Bill C-16 would create a new offence, criminalizing a pattern of coercive or controlling conduct in intimate partner relationships.”
“In 2017, the federal government released a federal gender-based violence strategy and has since invested over $800 million, about $44 million per year, to coordinate federal actions under three pillars: preventing gender-based violence, supporting survivors and their families, and promoting a responsive justice system.”
“Importantly, Bill C-16 also recognizes that gender-based violence increasingly occurs through technology. The rise of sexually explicit deepfakes, sextortion and online harassment has created new avenues for abuse, particularly targeting women and girls.”
“Over the past year, legislative amendments in Bill C-51 and Bill C-75 clarified and strengthened sexual assault laws and the criminal justice system's response to intimate partner violence, and Bill C-233 imposed stricter conditions for people charged with an offence involving intimate partner violence.”
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“Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Vancouver Quadra . It is a privilege to rise in the House to speak to the motion put forward by the member for Battle River—Crowfoot on the Canada-Alberta MOU, building pipelines to Asia and the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act. Before I begin, I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional unceded territory of the Anishinabe Algonquin nation, and I would like to express my gratitude for the privilege of sharing this land with them on this very day. It is important to recognize that, across Canada, the lands, waters and ice are traditional territories of the first nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Indigenous peoples have cared for these environments for thousands of years, and their knowledge and leadership remain essential.”
“Bill C-218 asks us to confront difficult but deeply important questions. Deciding whether medical assistance in dying should be available when a mental illness is the sole underlying condition is not a choice that lends itself to simple answers. Reasonable people may come to different conclusions. The Supreme Court of Canada has recognized this complexity, affirming that Parliament is owed a broad margin of deference when navigating challenging social policy issues such as this. We will have the opportunity to consider next steps further and to study the state of progress during the parliamentary review that will be held in 2026. I look forward to hearing from colleagues as well as from experts, stakeholders and regular people, including those with lived experience with mental illness, as we continue this important debate.”
“The federal government has also expanded support for youth mental health initiatives, recognizing that early access to therapy, counselling and culturally safe care can alter the trajectory of a person's entire life. We have also funded indigenous-led mental wellness programs, which acknowledge the need for approaches that are culturally relevant, trauma-informed and community-based, rather than one-size-fits-all solutions. Provinces and territories have taken significant steps to improve access to mental health services in Canada with federal supports over the past 10 years. Questions related to MAID in the context of mental illness are among the most sensitive we confront as parliamentarians. Our decisions affect people in Canada at their most vulnerable moment, and our work must reflect both humility and resolve.”
“This includes provincial and territorial efforts to improve access to mental health services and supports across Canada. No one should ever feel that MAID is the only option available to them. The federal government remains committed to supporting provinces and territories to improve access to health care for Canadians, which includes strengthening mental health services. In 2023 the Government of Canada announced the working together to improve health care in Canada plan, a historic investment of close to $200 billion over 10 years to support provincial and territorial health systems to deliver health care to Canadians. This includes an investment of $25 billion through bilateral health agreements with the provinces and territories to support shared priority areas, including improving access to mental health and substance use services.”
“At the same time, clinical readiness, clear standards and comprehensive training are essential. Following these studies in 2023, a model MAID practice standard was published, and a Canadian-made curriculum was developed. In addition, the federal government is currently supporting the Canadian Psychiatric Association to develop clinical practice guidelines for assessing suicidality and irremediability. Through a federal, provincial and territorial assistant deputy minister-level committee, policy leaders are also considering a range of issues related to MAID, particularly with respect to complex cases, including mental illness. We have heard from these expert reviews and from a broad range of stakeholders on the importance of provincial and territorial health systems' being ready for the lifting of the exclusion.”
“Its mandate was not to recommend whether eligibility for MAID should be expanded to permit the provision of MAID based on mental illness alone, but rather to recommend protocols, guidance and safeguards for such cases. The panel concluded that the existing Criminal Code safeguards, when supported by the development of MAID practices standards and the implementation of other recommendations, are adequate to allow for safe provision of MAID to people whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness. Both these expert reviews, along with the testimony received through parliamentary committee work, reinforce the same overarching message: MAID in cases involving mental illness requires exceptional caution, but it is not impossible to implement safely.”
“Taken together, they provide a rich body of evidence. The Council of Canadian Academies, the CCA, examined Canada's legal and clinical landscape, along with international approaches. The CCA's work highlighted the core clinical challenge: Mental illnesses can be unpredictable in their course and determining irremediability is far more complex than in many physical illnesses. The CCA was not tasked with providing recommendations for or against eligibility, and the members of the working group that dealt with mental illness had a spectrum of views on the matter. (1355) The expert panel on MAID and mental illness, which was mandated by the former Bill C-7 , took this analysis further.”
“A special joint parliamentary committee has carefully considered the issue at length and provided advice and recommendations on whether to proceed. That committee also reinforced the importance of provincial and territorial health system readiness. Bill C-218 invites us to consider whether the appropriate balance has been struck with the upcoming lifting of the mental illness exclusion in 2027, or whether another legislative change is necessary at this time. To answer that, it is essential that we understand what the experts have already told us. Significant studies have been completed on the specific question of MAID eligibility where mental illness is the sole underlying condition, including by the Council of Canadian Academies and the expert panel on MAID and mental illness, among others.”
“Bill C-218 seeks to make changes restricting eligibility for MAID indefinitely in cases where a mental disorder is the only medical condition involved. There have been concerns expressed by some stakeholders about whether there are sufficient safeguards in place, and whether health care providers have the tools and resources they need to provide MAID safely and appropriately when it comes to mental illness. These concerns are not new, nor are they trivial, and their desire for caution is laudable. At the same time, we must also recognize that Parliament has debated this question repeatedly over several years. Our legislative framework has evolved in response to court decisions, expert analysis and extensive public engagement.”
“Whenever we make changes to the federal legal framework for MAID, we must be cognizant of the impact that those changes have on our partners in the provinces and territories. As the Supreme Court of Canada recognized in Carter, striking the right balance in this complex area of social policy, where competing social values are at play, is not an easy task. As legislators, we must balance respect for personal autonomy and dignity with our responsibility to those who may be vulnerable. Today, I will speak to three key elements: first, the objectives of Bill C-218 ; second, the findings of major expert studies on MAID where mental illness is the sole underlying condition; and third, the federal government's support for provincial and territorial work to improve access to mental health services.”
“Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to rise today to speak to Bill C-218 , which proposes further amendments to Canada's federal legal framework for medical assistance in dying. Specifically, this bill aims to indefinitely exclude those patients whose only health condition is a mental disorder from being eligible for MAID. This is an issue which is unquestionably complex and can be deeply personal. It continues to challenge parliamentarians, health care providers, experts and people in Canada alike. It is important for us to recognize that medical assistance in dying has been allowed in Canada for close to 10 years now. It is also important to remember that it is the provinces and territories that must put in place the tools and supports that clinicians need to deliver MAID safely and appropriately.”
“These changes are being advanced within the federal areas of responsibility and reflect commitments to bringing forward law reform in this area. However, a well-functioning criminal justice system requires action from the provinces and territories that are responsible for the administration of justice, which includes the conduct of the majority of prosecutions in Canada. Building on the bail and sentencing reform act, the Government of Canada has further committed to bringing forward additional legislative changes to address court delays, to strengthen victims' rights, to better protect people facing sexual and intimate partner violence and to keep children safe from crimes.”
“Bill C-14 also proposes adding a new aggravated factor at sentencing for repeat violent offending, which would include repeat violent sexual offending. An aggravating factor is a circumstance or detail about an offence that makes a crime more serious. Aggravating factors send a message to our courts that certain conduct justifies harsher sentences. These amendments would respond to ongoing calls to denounce and deter all repeat violent offending. Federal, provincial and territorial governments have been actively collaborating on measures to strengthen the bail and sentencing regime for many months at the ministerial, deputy ministerial and officials' levels. The proposed amendments were developed in close co-operation with the provinces and territories, and reflect a collective agreement to support safer communities.”
“These amendments respond to concerns from provinces and territories, many of which have observed a troubling rise in conditional sentence orders being ordered in response to sexual offences, including child sexual offences, noting that these sentences were not sufficiently reflective of the gravity, nor sufficiently protected victims. These concerns have prompted calls to restrict conditional sentence orders for those offences and to ensure that the use of conditional sentence orders remains consistent with the principles of denunciation and deterrence and promotes public confidence in the justice system. These targeted reforms reflect the government's commitment to addressing the serious harms caused by sexual offending and its profound impact on victims.”
“Mr. Speaker, the proposed reverse onus recognizes that those accused of such offending may present heightened safety risks to their victims if released on bail. The bill currently going through Parliament would also significantly strengthen sentencing, including for sexual offending. It is proposed that conditional sentence orders, also known as house arrest, be unavailable for serious sexual offences, including those against children. Protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse is a top priority for the federal government. The government has taken significant steps to strengthen laws, enhance its law enforcement tools and support victims. Canada's approach reflects the belief that every child has the right to grow up free from harm and that those who violate that trust will face the full force of the law.”
“This reverse onus recognizes the fact that violence against intimate partners unfortunately tends to happen more than once, so those who have been previously convicted of such offences may pose increased safety risks to their victims if released on bail. Building on this foundation, Bill C-14 includes a proposal to create a new reverse onus bail provision for assault and sexual assault involving choking, suffocating or strangulation. Evidence suggests this behaviour is indicative of potential escalation to homicide, particularly in the intimate partner context. The proposed reverse onus recognizes that those accused of such offending may present—”
“In a reverse onus situation, an accused must be detained while awaiting their trial, unless they can demonstrate to the court that they should not be denied bail by showing that there is no just cause for their detention, meaning they are not a risk to public safety. A reverse onus demonstrates Parliament's intention that bail should be more difficult to obtain in cases where the accused might present heightened risk if released on bail. (1905) Right now, the Criminal Code sets out reverse onus for several criminal offences, including for offences where the allegations involve violence against an intimate partner if the accused had been previously convicted or discharged of an offence where violence was used against their intimate partner.”
“It would include, but not be limited to, offences involving sexual violence. As a result of this proposal, courts would be required by law to consider consecutive sentences for repeat violent offenders, and failure to do so would be an error in law that could be appealed. Bill C-14 would also make it more difficult for those accused of serious, violent and sexual offending to be released on bail. The general rule for bail is that, when a Crown prosecutor seeks the detention of an accused person, they must demonstrate to the court that there is just cause to detain the accused. This means the Crown has the responsibility to show the accused should not be granted bail. However, in certain cases, the accused must show why they should be granted bail. This is referred to as reverse onus.”
“A consecutive sentence means multiple prison sentences are served one after the other, with the total length of the sentence being the sum of the individual sentences imposed for one offence. This is different from a concurrent sentence, where multiple prison terms for different offences in a single sentence can be served at the same time. If passed by Parliament, Bill C-14 would send a strong signal to the courts that longer sentences may be warranted in cases of repeat violent offending, while still allowing for individualized circumstances to be considered by the sentencing judge. Bill C-14 would capture a broad range of offenders, including anyone with a record for violent offences in the last five years, as well as a broad range of offences, such as any offence involving violence or threats of violence.”
“The grave harm caused by sexual offending is one of the reasons the government is seeking to advance important criminal law reforms, including the recent bail and sentencing reform act, or Bill C-14 , which has a view to reinforce community safety and strengthen Canada's justice system. Bill C-14 represents a significant step forward in updating Canada's criminal justice framework to make bail law stricter and sentencing law tougher. The bill includes more than 80 targeted changes to the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and other relevant acts, and all are directed toward delivering firm and fairer outcomes for everyone in Canada. Bill C-14 includes an amendment that would require judges to consider consecutive sentences for repeat violent offenders, including repeat sexual violent offenders.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am speaking in response to Bill C-246 , an act to amend the Criminal Code. It is private member's bill introduced by the hon. member for Lethbridge . The bill would change the Criminal Code so that, when someone is convicted of two or more sexual offences at the same time, their sentences would have to be served one after the other. If that person was later convicted of another sexual offence, their new sentence would automatically be added on top of the sentence they are already serving for the earlier sexual offences. Sexual offending is a profound violation that leaves lasting physical, emotional and psychological harm. These are not crimes that can be minimized or treated lightly. They require our justice system to respond with clarity, strength and accountability.”
“Mr. Speaker, cyclone Ditwah has devastated communities across Sri Lanka, causing severe flooding and landslides that have claimed over 465 lives and left hundreds more missing. Homes, infrastructure and local economies have suffered serious damage, and communities across the country are struggling to deal with the aftermath, especially in the northeast hill regions, which are already struggling due to poverty and war. Canada has always been known as a partner that we can count on in moments of hardship. Could the Secretary of State for International Development inform the House of Canada's—”
“Mr. Speaker, this week, as we begin the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, and with today marking Economic Abuse Awareness Day, we are reminded of the countless women, children and families whose lives have been forever changed by abuse, and we are reminded that this violence does not always leave visible scars. It is often hidden behind closed doors, taking the form of control, isolation and economic abuse that can trap someone in a dangerous situation. Could the Minister of Women and Gender Equality speak to how our government is working to recognize and combat economic abuse and to support those who are living through this painful and often invisible form of violence?”
“While the ombudsperson does not advocate on behalf of individual victims or provide legal advice, they can make recommendations to the federal government in response to the issues raised, provide information or refer complaints to victim services. The government will continue to stand in support of victims of crime. No system is perfect, and there is always room for improvement.”
“The process around correctional and conditional release can be confusing, complicated and overwhelming for victims, but services like the national office for victims can help victims understand their rights. It is important I mention that there is a complaint mechanism. If a victim feels that their rights under the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights have been infringed or denied by a federal agency or a department, they can make these complaints directly to the relevant department or agency to have issues resolved directly and in a timely manner. However, should they be unsatisfied with the outcome of the internal complaint process, they may also contact the Office of the Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime. The Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime operates independently and at arm's length from the Government of Canada.”
“(1425) The office provides a victim lens on correctional policy development as well as developing information products for disseminating to victims and the general public. These information products are aimed at increasing awareness so victims can better understand and navigate the process related to federal correctional and conditional release. It also engages with victims, their advocates and other stakeholders to ensure that their voices are heard in the development of the office's services and supports. Finally, the national office for victims considers the unique needs of victims in vulnerable communities, including indigenous peoples, in all of its work.”
“There is a range of losses that can be covered by restitution, including damaged or lost property due to the crime, physical injury or psychological harm, costs related to moving out of the offender's household, costs that victims of identity theft incur to re-establish their identity and correct their credit history, and costs that victims of the non-consensual publication of an intimate image incur to have an image removed from the Internet. The Government of Canada remains committed to empowering victims of crime with resources such as the national office for victims. It is an important resource for victims that improves how they experience federal corrections and conditional release programs.”
“Further, courts need to consider ordering restitution for all offences. An offender's ability to pay restitution is one of the factors a court will consider, but it does not prevent a court from making the order. A court must consider restitution as part of the totality of the sentence. The factors considered when determining an appropriate sentence include the seriousness of the offence, any payments already made by the offender and the impact of the crime on the victim.”
“Victims can also access a photo of the person who has harmed them prior to release. If the Parole Board of Canada does not impose any conditions requested by victims, they are also eligible to obtain written reasons. Under the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights, victims of crime are legally entitled to receive information on progress made by inmates toward meeting the objectives of their correctional plan. They can also name a representative to receive information on their behalf. Additionally, victims have the right to have the court consider making a restitution order and have an unpaid restitution order enforced through a civil court. At sentencing, victims are allowed to submit a victim impact statement describing the losses they have suffered because of the crime committed against them.”
“They also have the right to have reasonable and necessary protection from intimidation and retaliation. The Canadian Victims Bill of Rights gives victims the right to convey their views and have those views considered. Victims may participate in meaningful ways by attending Parole Board hearings and submitting or presenting victim statements about the physical, emotional or financial impact that offences have had on their lives for consideration at any parole review. The Parole Board of Canada can then take all of this information into account when making its decision. Victims can also propose specific conditions for consideration in the board's decision-making. For example, geographic conditions or no contact orders can be imposed if an offender is granted release.”
“For example, in 2015, the Government of Canada created the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights, which enshrined victims' rights into law. The Canadian Victims Bill of Rights provides the statutory rights to information, to protection, to participation and seek restitution. On a practical level, this means that victims have the right to receive information about the justice system and about the services and programs available to them. Victims may also obtain specific information on the progress of a case, including information on the investigation, prosecution and sentencing, as well as the conditional release process of the person who harmed them and how the sentence is administered. Importantly, victims have the right to have their security and privacy considered at all stages of the criminal justice process.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak to Bill C-236 , addressing the continuing victimization of homicide victims' families act. The short title of this bill refers to the continuing victimization of homicide victims. The bill would make an offender's failure to disclose the location of victims' remains a consideration in parole decisions. I want to assure the member for Parkland , and indeed all my parliamentary colleagues, that this government takes its responsibilities toward victims seriously. We know the families of homicide victims have suffered unspeakable tragedy and we stand with them. They deserve our compassion, respect and support. I am going to use my time to outline the ways victims are already supported by the government.”
“I invite my colleagues in the House to participate in the many Hindu Heritage Month events being hosted in their local communities. I wish a happy Hindu Heritage Month to everyone.”
“Mr. Speaker, November marks Hindu Heritage Month, a time to honour one of the world's oldest living traditions and recognize the profound contributions that Hindu Canadians make to our country in the field of medicine, new technologies, education, arts, finance and entrepreneurship. With nearly one million Hindu Canadians enriching our social, cultural and economic values, from philanthropists like Ramesh Chotai in Pickering to political leaders like the Minister of Foreign Affairs , the Minister of Public Safety and Liberal Party leader Sachit Mehra, Hindu Canadians continue to shape the present and future of our political landscape. Canada's strength lies in our ability to learn from one another, celebrate our differences and work together for the common good.”
“Bill C-221 continues these sensible, non-partisan, multi-generational advancements. The legislation makes clear that members of this House have collectively heard victims' voices and are acting on them.”
“Our understanding of those rights and our willingness to apply that knowledge is the work of many people and governments. Governments of all political stripes and members from both sides of the chamber have taken and supported action. This advancement of victims' rights began in Canada in 1988. That year, the House first endorsed the Canadian Statement of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime. This watershed development was soon followed by a federal law that gave victims of crime a voice at sentencing hearings. Since then, successive governments have affirmed the rights of victims based on our growing understanding of their needs. This progress is the result of Canada's evolving understanding of the rights of victims of crime and our willingness to apply that knowledge.”
“If adopted, Bill C-221 would amend the law so victims of crime would be entitled to know not only when offenders could be released, but also how officials determine these eligibility dates. Victims of crime and their families want clarity when it comes to the justice system. They also want transparency and for their voices to be heard. Bill C-221 would give victims and their families the clarity and transparency they seek. It would help victims get information about key eligibility and review dates up front. At the same time, it in no way detracts from the rights of offenders. Their privacy and legal entitlements are in no way diminished or threatened. The bill also aligns with the advancements we have made in this country to recognize and uphold the rights of victims of crime.”
“Madam Speaker, I wish to thank the hon. member for Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies for sponsoring this legislation. I also wish to thank all members who have contributed or will contribute to our consideration of this bill. As members know, this legislation has already been tabled by the members opposite in previous sessions. It is an important non-partisan bill that focuses on the rights of victims of crime and their families. Our government firmly believes that victims across Canada deserve our compassion, respect and support. Under the current federal law, victims of crime are entitled to receive certain information about the person or persons who harmed them. This information includes eligibility dates and review dates applicable to the offender for temporary absences or parole.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am particularly in support of and very thrilled about the programs and the money allocated for youth: $1.5 billion over three years, starting next year, to strengthen youth jobs programs, like Canada summer jobs, which is a 30% increase from last year; the youth employment and skills strategy to get youth ready for jobs; and the student work placement program, reaching roughly 20,000 youth. These are—”
“Mr. Speaker, I understand that it is a crisis, and I do empathize. I want to reiterate that, for some programs, health is under the jurisdiction of the provinces, and they need to pay closer attention to some of the crises happening in our communities.”
“Mr. Speaker, I spoke about the new horizons program because I worked with seniors in my past life for many years, and I understand that the program takes seniors out of isolation. I am very passionate about it. My colleague referred to a two-class system. I think that as seniors age, their needs also increase. The government has recognized that, hence the two-tiered system. I think it is needed. As we are able to earn more and build Canada strong, we will bring more programs to seniors in the future.”
“Mr. Speaker, I believe that this budget clearly protects our seniors. There is the new horizons funding, for example, which takes a lot of seniors out of isolation. I am grateful the program did not get cut. We are investing in the gains and benefits seniors are receiving right now. I want to assure the member opposite that seniors are very well taken care of in the 2025 budget.”
“These measures are not only about clean growth; they are also about empowering Canadian businesses, large and small, to compete and thrive in a low-carbon global economy. For small businesses in Pickering—Brooklin, this means more support to expand, hire and lead in a world that is moving toward sustainable growth. Canada's new government is investing in our local economy and in Canadians. We will spend less on government operations so we can invest more in growing our economy and protecting the essential programs that make life more affordable. In the face of uncertainty, Canadians are going to build the future we want for ourselves. Budget 2025 is our plan to do just that: to build, to protect and to empower Canadians. This is our moment, our time to make generational investments to secure Canada's place as a leader among nations.”
“We are creating an environment that rewards investment and innovation, especially in the industries of the future. The government is introducing and enshrining in law a suite of investment tax credits to give Canadian businesses the confidence to invest: the clean-electricity tax credit, which is soon to be legislated and will be retroactive to March 2023; the clean-technology tax credit, which is now law, providing a 30% incentive for businesses investing in clean innovation and which is also retroactive to March 2023; and the clean-technology manufacturing tax credit, offering a 30% incentive retroactive to January 2024. We are also strengthening industrial carbon pricing by developing a post-2030 trajectory that gives businesses long-term certainty to plan and invest responsibly.”
“For Pickering—Brooklin, it is about ensuring that as we grow, we grow well, with strong roads, sustainable water systems, accessible health care, and spaces that bring people together. No plan for Canada's future is complete without supporting the small businesses that power our local economies. From the machine and tool businesses like Toromont Cat to a visit to Sugamaze for our delectable sweets, or to the tech entrepreneurs setting up in downtown Pickering, small businesses are the lifeline of our community. They create jobs, sponsor local teams and drive Canadian innovation. Budget 2025 recognizes our economic strength depends on their success, and it will deliver exactly what they need to thrive as we build Canada strong.”
“This fund would include three major streams: a community stream, which would provide $27.8 billion over 10 years and $3 billion per year ongoing to support local projects; a direct delivery stream, with $6 billion over 10 years for large-scale retrofits, regional projects, climate adaptation and critical community infrastructure; and a provincial and territorial stream with $17.2 billion over 10 years for housing-enabling projects, including things like roads, water and waste-water systems, hospitals and post-secondary infrastructure. Within that, $5 billion over three years would establish a dedicated health infrastructure fund, ensuring our hospitals and care facilities could meet the needs of Canadians. (1525) Infrastructure is not simply concrete and steel or brick and mortar; it is the foundation of opportunity.”
“From a shortage of needed electrical power supply or high-speed Internet in communities such as Ashburn and Claremont to necessary road safety enhancements for the burgeoning growth of Pickering and even a much-needed new hospital to serve Brooklin residents, these are all necessary infrastructure projects that the community of Pickering—Brooklin requires to safely and effectively house the exponential growth of this region in the coming decades. Budget 2025 would deliver exactly that: a nation-building investment in infrastructure through the new build communities strong fund, a $51-billion investment over 10 years, with an ongoing annual investment of $3 billion to help local governments plan, build and grow sustainably.”
“Finally, upcoming legislation would make the national school food program permanent, providing $216.6 million per year to ensure that every child can learn without having to think about their next meal. These measures are not abstract line items. They are about peace of mind and dignity. They are about making sure that every parent, student and senior in Pickering—Brooklin feels that their government is standing up with them. I am proud to say that the government would deliver on these exact promises. As we talk about homes and affordability, we cannot forget what makes communities thrive: the infrastructure that connects us, supports us and defines us.”
“Budget 2025 would invest $115.7 million over four years to make it easier to access the Canada disability benefit, including a one-time supplemental payment of $150 for each disability tax credit certification or recertification, while reaffirming that the benefit would be exempt from income calculations under the Income Tax Act. For millions of Canadians living on low or modest incomes, automatic federal benefits would make it easier to get the support they deserve. By 2028, the CRA would automatically file taxes for 5.5 million low-income Canadians, ensuring they receive benefits such as the GST and HST credits and the Canada child benefit, which they so rightly deserve.”
“It is about everyday life, including the grocery bill, the hydro bill and the cost of getting to work. Canadians want to know that when they work hard, they can get ahead, and budget 2025 answers that call. To support young Canadians entering the workforce, the government would invest $1.5 billion over three years, starting in 2026, to strengthen youth jobs programs such as Canada summer jobs, the youth employment and skills strategy and the student work placement program, which would reach roughly 175,000 young people in 2026-27 alone. We are also ensuring that no Canadian is left behind.”