9.32°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

BCDec 05, 2025

Whitecaps prepare for first MLS conference final against Inter Miami

The Vancouver Whitecaps are in Florida as the club gets ready for a historic appearance in the Major League Soccer conference final. The matchup against Inter Miami marks the first time Vancouver has advanced this far in the league’s post-season structure. The Whitecaps face one of the highest profile opponents in MLS, with global star Lionel Messi leading Miami’s attack. Vancouver players say the spotlight does not change their focus. Midfielder Sebastian Berhalter told reporters he believes the team has the confidence and structure needed to compete for a place in the league championship
BCDec 05, 2025

B.C. adds jobs in November as province faces pressure from U.S. tariffs, new labour data shows

British Columbia recorded a modest increase in employment last month as new federal labour data pointed to steady economic conditions despite ongoing uncertainty in sectors such as forestry. The provincial government highlighted the gains on Friday after Statistics Canada released its Labour Force Survey for November. According to the survey, B.C. added 6,200 jobs in November and has gained more than 40,000 positions over the past year, led by manufacturing and construction. The province’s unemployment rate edged down to 6.4 percent, slightly below the national rate of 6.5 percent. Statistic
CanadaDec 05, 2025

Carney meets Trump and Sheinbaum in rare joint appearance at FIFA World Cup final draw

Prime Minister Mark Carney joined U.S. President Donald Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum today at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington for the final draw of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking the first time the three leaders have appeared together since tensions rose over Trump’s recent trade actions. Carney entered a private viewing box reserved for the Canadian delegation shortly before the draw began. The box was located beside the American section, allowing for a brief exchange between the prime minister and President Trump. Earlier in the afternoon, Carney held a short me
teen-charged-in-connection-with-overdose-deaths-on-tsuutina-nation
AlbertaDec 05, 2025

Teen charged in connection with overdose deaths on Tsuut’ina Nation

Calgary police say a 17-year-old has been charged following two fatal overdoses on the neighbouring Tsuut’ina Nation earlier this summer, an incident that has renewed concerns about youth involvement in the province’s illicit drug trade. Investigators allege the teen had been selling cocaine, including during school lunch hours. Officers executed a search warrant at a Calgary residence as part of the investigation. Police say they seized several items, including cellphones, cash, digital scales, bear spray and quantities of cocaine and methamphetamines. Authorities note that Alberta contin
pedestrian-dies-after-early-morning-collision-with-pickup-truck-in-abbotsford
BCDec 05, 2025

Pedestrian dies after early morning collision with pickup truck in Abbotsford

A pedestrian has died after being hit by a pickup truck early Friday morning in Abbotsford, in an area police say is known for limited street lighting. Abbotsford police report the collision occurred around 5:30 a.m. on McCallum Road, just south of Busby Road and north of the Trans Canada Highway. First responders found the pedestrian with life-threatening injuries, and the individual was later pronounced dead in hospital. Investigators say the driver of the pickup truck remained at the scene and has been cooperating with officers. Early findings suggest that both the low lighting conditions a

Related News