November 23, 2018 – Toronto, Ontario – Department of Finance Canada

Across the country, an expanding middle class is driving economic growth, creating new jobs and more opportunities for everyone to succeed. Thanks to the hard work of Canadians, bolstered by the Government's investments in people and communities, Canada's economy is strong and growing. In the last three years, Canadians have created more than a half a million new full-time jobs, the unemployment rate is at a 40-year low, wages are rising at their fastest rate in eight years, and consumer confidence is strong.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau was at Ryerson University in Toronto today to launch the Government of Canada's consultations for Budget 2019, as well as participate in a panel discussion and talk with students about his own experiences, and the Government's plan to invest to grow the economy and create more good, well-paying jobs for the middle class.

As part of the launch of pre-budget consultations, Minister Morneau invited Canadians to contribute their ideas on how the Government can continue to build an economy that works for everyone, with good jobs for the middle class and real help for people working hard to join the middle class.

Canadians can contribute their ideas to the Government's pre-budget consultations through in-person and digital events with Parliamentarians. They can also send in submissions through the Your Budget website launched today: https://www.budget.gc.ca/pbc.