Investing in our communities means tackling the systemic discrimination and hate that too many racialized Canadians, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, women, and 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians still face. Budget 2023 introduces new measures that will build stronger communities and a more equitable and inclusive Canada-for everyone.
Supporting Our Official Languages
To meet the challenges facing linguistic duality in Canada-and to ensure its future-the federal government recognizes its responsibility to protect and promote our two official languages. This includes protecting and promoting French in Quebec, and the language rights of Francophone minorities across Canada, as well as the Anglophone minority in Quebec.
Budget 2023 proposes to provide $373.7 million over five years in additional funding to support new and enhanced federal initiatives under the Action Plan for Official Languages, 2023-28.
In addition, Budget 2023 proposes to provide $679.2 million over five years to support work with provinces and territories to help make high-quality minority-language education, opportunities for second-language learning, and bilingual government services more readily available across Canada.
New investments proposed in Budget 2023 would bring total funding for the Action Plan for Official Languages, 2023-28 to over $3.8 billion over five years.
Advancing Gender Equality in Canada
Women in Canada face unique barriers. Since 2015, the federal government has made record investments to support women and gender diverse people, with Budget 2023 delivering new support to build on the important progress that has been made.
Budget 2023 proposes to provide $160 million over three years for the Women's Program to provide funding to organizations in Canada that serve women. The government is committed to maintaining historic funding levels for Canadian women's organizations and equity-deserving groups, with a particular focus on Indigenous women, women with disabilities, members of the 2SLGBTQI+ communities, and newcomer, Black, racialized, and migrant women.
Canada's New Action Plan to Combat Hate
To confront hate in all its forms, the federal government plans to introduce a new Action Plan to Combat Hate later this year. This new Action Plan will include measures to combat hateful rhetoric and will build on measures being taken in Budget 2023 to build safer, more inclusive communities.
Budget 2023 proposes to provide $49.5 million over five years to Public Safety Canada to enhance and expand the Communities at Risk: Security Infrastructure Program and allow it to be more responsive to the evolving security needs of communities.
Building on Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy
In Budget 2022, the federal government renewed Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy to fight racism and ensure that our society continues to be strengthened by Canada's remarkable cultural, ethnic, and linguistic diversity.
Budget 2023 proposes to provide an additional $25.4 million over five years to continue to support Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy and fight all forms of racism, including but not limited to anti-Indigenous racism, anti-Black racism, anti-Asian racism, antisemitism, and Islamophobia.
Supporting Black Canadian Communities
Research indicates that Black Canadians continue to experience persistent inequities in income and employment while also facing a higher likelihood of discrimination. The government remains committed to addressing these barriers and inequities.
Budget 2023 proposes to provide $25 million in 2024-25 for the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative, to continue empowering Black-led and Black-serving community organizations and the work they do to promote inclusiveness.
Protecting Diaspora Communities and All Canadians From Foreign Interference, Threats, and Covert Activities
As an advanced economy and a free and diverse democracy, Canada's strengths also make us a target for hostile states seeking to acquire information and technology, intelligence, and influence to advance their own interests. No one in Canada should ever be threatened by foreign actors, and Canadian businesses and Canada's public institutions must be free of foreign interference.
Budget 2023 proposes to provide $48.9 million over three years on a cash basis, starting in 2023-24, to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to protect Canadians from harassment and intimidation, increase its investigative capacity, and more proactively engage with communities at greater risk of being targeted.
Budget 2023 proposes to provide $13.5 million over five years, and $3.1 million ongoing to Public Safety Canada to establish a National Counter-Foreign Interference Office.
A Safe and Accountable Sport System
Ensuring that our sporting institutions across the country are accountable for the treatment of their athletes is essential to building a sport system that promotes the safety and well-being of Canadian athletes.
Budget 2023 proposes to provide $13.8 million over three years, starting in 2022-23, to the Department of Canadian Heritage to enhance accountability and support efforts to build a safe and accountable sport system.
