12.08°C Vancouver

Apr 19, 2021 9:29 PM -

Federal Budget 2021: Highlights from Chrystia Freeland's speech and reaction

Share On
federal-budget-2021-highlights-from-chrystia-freelands-speech-and-reaction
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks on as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland responds to a question during a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Highlights from the federal Liberal budget tabled Monday by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland:

$30 billion over the next five years, and $8.3 billion ongoing for early learning and child care and Indigenous early learning and child care.

The plan would aim to see an average drop in fees next year by 50 per cent for preschooler daycare spaces and an average of $10-a-day care by 2026.

$3 billion over five years, starting in 2022-23, to Health Canada to support provinces and territories in improving standards for long-term care. The government says this funding will keep seniors safe and improve their quality of life.

$2.2 billion in Canada's bio-manufacturing and life-sciences sector to rebuild Canada's national capacity in bio-manufacturing and vaccine development and production.

Introducing legislation to establish a federal minimum wage of $15 per hour, rising with inflation, with provisions to ensure that where provincial or territorial minimum wages are higher, that wage will prevail.

A new Canada Recovery Hiring Program to provide eligible employers with a subsidy of up to 50 per cent on the incremental remuneration paid to eligible employees between June 6 and November 20.

The program will provide $595 million to make it easier for businesses to hire back laid-off workers or to bring in new ones.

$17.6 billion towards a green recovery to create jobs, build a clean economy, and fight and protect against climate change.

$1 billion over six years, starting in 2021-22, to the Universal Broadband Fund to support a more rapid rollout of broadband projects in collaboration with provinces and territories and other partners.

$18 billion over the next five years to try to narrow the socio-economic gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, including $6 billion for infrastructure in Indigenous communities, and $2.2 billion to help end the tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

$2.5 billion and reallocate $1.3 billion in existing funding in order to help build, repair or support 35,000 housing units.

Introduce Canada's first national tax on vacant property owned by non-residents.

Introducing a new tax on the sales, for personal use, of luxury cars and personal aircraft with a retail sales price over $100,000, and boats, for personal use, over $250,000.

Includes $100 million in new spending over the next three years.

Records a $155 billion deficit for 2021-22.

Latest news

german-energy-firm-signals-interest-in-lng-supply-from-proposed-ksi-lisims-project
BCJun 08, 2026

German Energy Firm Signals Interest in LNG Supply from Proposed Ksi Lisims Project

A second German energy company has expressed interest in purchasing liquefied natural gas from the proposed Ksi Lisims LNG project on British Columbia’s North Coast. Project partners announced they have signed a memorandum of understanding with Germany-based Uniper that could see the company purchase up to two million tonnes of LNG annually beginning in 2032. The agreement is non-binding and remains subject to further negotiations and project development. The announcement follows a separate deal reached last month between Ksi Lisims LNG and German energy company SEFE. Under that agreement, S
canada-post-warns-of-possible-mail-service-disruptions-in-toronto-and-vancouver-during-fifa-world-cup
CanadaJun 08, 2026

Canada Post warns of possible mail service disruptions in Toronto and Vancouver during FIFA World Cup

Canada Post is warning residents in parts of Toronto and Vancouver that mail delivery services may be affected during the FIFA World Cup tournament this summer. In an announcement released Monday, Canada Post said mail delivery could be disrupted in areas near match venues and related event sites due to security measures and road closures associated with the tournament. According to Canada Post, any mail that cannot be delivered because of access restrictions or safety concerns will be securely held at local depots and delivered on a priority basis on the next business day. The postal service
AlbertaJun 08, 2026

Alberta launches major recruitment drive for referendum workers ahead of October vote

Elections Alberta has launched what it describes as one of the largest referendum staffing campaigns ever undertaken in Canada as the province prepares for a provincewide vote scheduled for October 19. The agency says it needs approximately 60,000 workers to administer and count ballots for 10 referendum questions that will be put to Alberta voters. Under provincial rules, ballot counting must be completed within 48 hours of polls closing. One of the referendum questions will ask Albertans whether the province should remain part of Canada or begin the legal process required to hold a binding r
magnitude-7-8-earthquake-strikes-near-mindanao-at-least-32-dead-as-tsunami-warnings-issued
WorldJun 08, 2026

Magnitude 7.8 earthquake strikes near Mindanao, at least 32 dead as tsunami warnings issued

A powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck near the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Monday morning, leaving at least 32 people dead, according to preliminary reports from authorities. More than 100 people were injured, about two dozen remain missing, and roughly 10,000 residents have been evacuated from affected areas. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake occurred at approximately 7:40 a.m. local time and had a depth of about 33 kilometres. Tsunami warnings were issued for several countries following the quake as authorities assessed potential coast
louise-arbour-to-be-installed-as-canadas-31st-governor-general
CanadaJun 08, 2026

Former Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour sworn in as Canada's 31st Governor General

Former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour was sworn in Monday as Canada's 31st Governor General during a ceremony at the Senate of Canada Building in Ottawa. Arbour succeeds Mary Simon, who became Canada's first Indigenous Governor General in 2021. The appointment is reported to be the first approved by King Charles III. The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Mark Carney, Chief Justice Richard Wagner, House of Commons Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia and Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, among other dignitaries. Arbour, 79, is a Montreal-based juri

Related News