10.45°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

vancouver-police-probe-stabbing-after-fight-at-high-school-basketball-game
BCFeb 03, 2026

Vancouver police probe stabbing after fight at high school basketball game

Vancouver police are investigating a stabbing that left a teenager seriously injured following a high school basketball game at Eric Hamber Secondary School on Monday night. Police say the incident happened shortly after 9 p.m. as a game between Eric Hamber Secondary and Killarney Secondary was ending. Investigators believe several fights broke out among spectators, during which an 18-year-old boy was stabbed in the arm. The injured teen was taken to hospital and treated for his injuries. Police say his condition is serious but non-life-threatening. No arrests have been made, and the investiga
liberals-tap-ontario-ndp-mpp-doly-begum-as-candidate-in-scarborough-southwest
CanadaFeb 03, 2026

Liberals tap Ontario NDP MPP Doly Begum as candidate in Scarborough Southwest

The federal Liberal Party has announced Ontario New Democratic Party MPP Doly Begum will run as its candidate in Scarborough Southwest, following the resignation of longtime Liberal MP Bill Blair. Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed earlier this week that Blair, who has represented the Scarborough riding at the federal level for nearly a decade, will take on the role of Canada’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom later this spring. Blair previously served as Toronto’s police chief before entering federal politics in 2015. Begum has represented Scarborough Southwest at Queen’s Park
vancouver-airport-reports-record-passenger-traffic-and-cargo-volumes-in-2025
BCFeb 03, 2026

Vancouver airport reports record passenger traffic and cargo volumes in 2025

Vancouver International Airport says it reached new highs for both passenger travel and cargo movement in 2025, reflecting continued recovery and growth in the region’s transportation and trade sectors. The airport recorded more than 26.9 million passengers last year, a 2.7 per cent increase compared with 2024. That figure surpasses the previous record of 26.3 million travellers set in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global air travel. Airport officials say domestic travel remained a key driver of growth, rising 3.8 per cent year over year. Passenger traffic between Vancouver an
WorldFeb 03, 2026

Iran signals conditional openness to talks with U.S. amid diplomatic uncertainty

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says he has directed the country’s foreign minister to explore negotiations with the United States, provided talks take place under what he described as fair and respectful conditions. In a message posted Tuesday on social media platform X, Pezeshkian said discussions would only proceed if the diplomatic environment is free of threats or what he called unreasonable demands. He said any engagement must be guided by national dignity, prudence, and Iran’s broader interests. The remarks mark the clearest public indication so far that Iran’s new reformist a
trump-to-meet-colombian-president-petro-at-white-house-amid-drug-trafficking-concerns
WorldFeb 03, 2026

Trump to Meet Colombian President Petro at White House Amid Drug Trafficking Concerns

U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Colombian President Gustavo Petro at the White House on Tuesday. The meeting comes weeks after Trump threatened military action against Colombia over issues related to drug trafficking. On Monday, Trump indicated that Petro appears willing to cooperate with U.S. authorities to curb illegal drug shipments originating from Colombia. Officials say the discussions during the visit are expected to focus on regional security collaboration and efforts to accelerate anti-drug initiatives. Petro and Trump have also voiced ongoing criticism of Venezuelan

Related News