Today, the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, visited the Adonis grocery store in Gatineau to talk with local residents and highlight Budget 2023's investments that will help make life more affordable for Canadians.
Canada has made a remarkable recovery from the COVID recession. Canada's economic growth was the strongest in the G7 over the last year, and today, 865,000 more Canadians are employed than before the pandemic, including 136,900 in Quebec. Inflation in Canada has fallen for eight months in a row, our unemployment rate is near its record low, and, supported by our Canada-wide system of affordable early learning and child care, the labour force participation rate for women aged 25 to 54 reached a record high of 85.7 per cent in February.
However, inflation is still making it difficult for many Canadians to make ends meet and put food on the table. Groceries are more expensive today, and for many people, higher prices on other essential goods are causing undue stress. That's why Budget 2023 provides new, targeted inflation relief for the most vulnerable Canadians to help support them with the cost of living.
Budget 2023 delivers the new Grocery Rebate, which would offer targeted inflation relief for 11 million Canadians and families who need it most with up to an additional $467 for eligible couples with two children; an additional $234 for single Canadians without children; and an additional $225 for seniors, on average.
To make life more affordable, the government is also taking action to crack down on junk fees and predatory lending, lower credit card transaction fees for small businesses, and help Canadians keep more money in their pockets.
