March 21, 2019 - Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Finance Canada
Connected, clean and vibrant communities are crucial to a strong and healthy middle class, and a growing Canadian economy.
Today, the Honourable Jim Carr, Minister of International Trade Diversification was in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he met with Mayor Brian Bowman to highlight Budget 2019, Investing in the Middle Class. The Budget details how the Government is making sure middle class Canadians benefit from Canada's economic growth. That includes helping more Canadians find an affordable home, prepare for well-paid jobs, retire with confidence and get prescription drugs when they need them.
Following the meeting with Mayor Bowman, Minister Carr highlighted how investments in Budget 2019 would help build a more innovative and connected country, advancing Canada as both an economic and environmental leader.
One key area where the government continues to invest is municipal infrastructure. Budget 2019 allocates funding to support shovel-ready municipal infrastructure projects like roads or improvements to community centres. These projects will provide places for Winnipeg's thriving communities to come together and help residents to get where they are going.
In Budget 2019, the Government proposes to:
- Provide new infrastructure funding for local communities through a major municipal infrastructure top-up investment. This will double the Government's commitment to municipalities and provide much-needed funds to communities of all sizes across the country.
- Ensure all Canadians have access to high-speed internet no matter where they live – including homes and businesses in rural, remote and northern communities.
- Lower Canadians' energy costs by supporting home energy retrofits and other energy-saving transitions in residential, commercial and multi-unit buildings, in partnership with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
- Move towards a clean electric future, by working in collaboration with the provinces and territories to promote clean, reliable and affordable electricity.
- Make it easier and more affordable for Canadians to choose a zero-emission vehicle by expanding the network of zero-emission vehicle charging and refuelling stations and creating new incentives for people and businesses to purchase zero-emission vehicles.
- Make Canada a global innovation hub by building on historic investments in researchers and innovators to deliver economic benefits while making Canada and the world a safer, healthier, better place to live.
"Canadians have always understood the importance of building communities up. From the St. Lawrence Seaway to the national railroad system to the Trans-Canada Highway, Canadians have always invested in ways to better connect with each other. Today, those investments need to reflect the state of the world – becoming digital and sustainable. That means new fibre links for wireless high-speed internet, cleaner forms of energy and more sustainable buildings."
- Jim Carr, Minister of International Trade Diversification
Quick facts
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The Government is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years to build infrastructure in communities across the country.
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Working with provinces and territories, the Government has approved more than 33,000 infrastructure projects supported by federal investments of approximately $19.9 billion.
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Since 2016, the Government has committed more than $9.4 billion to support Canadian scientists and researchers, including significant investments in the cutting-edge equipment needed to make scientific breakthroughs and drive innovation.
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Eligible residents of Ontario, New Brunswick, Manitoba and Saskatchewan can now claim tax-free Climate Action Incentive payments for their family, through their 2018 personal income tax returns. Most households will receive more in Climate Action Incentive payments than their increased costs resulting from the federal carbon pollution pricing system.
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Without immediate action, climate change will reduce Canada's quality of life and collective prosperity. Encouraging clean technology development and adoption will help Canadian businesses remain competitive in the global low-carbon economy.
