Government's Plan to Invest in the Middle Class Receives Royal Assent
News release
December 13, 2018 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Finance Canada
Investments by the Government of Canada, together with the hard work of Canadians, are delivering results—Canada's economy is strong and growing, with more jobs and opportunities for the middle class and people working hard to join it. Budget 2018 represents another part of the Government's plan to build a strong middle class, and an economy that works for everyone.
Today, Finance Minister Bill Morneau welcomed the Royal Assent of Bill C-86, the second Budget Implementation Act for Budget 2018, Equality + Growth: A Strong Middle Class.
The Act includes historic investments that encourage the broader participation of women in the workforce—investments that are the right thing to do, and the smart thing to do for Canada's economy. This includes the new Employment Insurance Parental Sharing Benefit, which will provide additional weeks of parental benefits when parents, including adoptive and same-sex couples, agree to share parental leave. It also includes pay equity legislation to ensure that women working in federally regulated workplaces receive equal pay for work of equal value, as well as legislation to promote gender budgeting and the establishment of the Department for Women and Gender Equality.
Other measures in the second Budget Implementation Act will make it easier for businesses to compete and for Canadians to succeed. Through this Act the Government will:
- simplify Canada's tariff regime to ease administrative burden and reduce compliance costs for Canadian businesses;
- advance the rights and interests of consumers when dealing with their banks; and
- allow the Canada Revenue Agency to calculate the Canada Workers Benefit for any tax filer who has not claimed it.
In addition, today's legislation makes possible the new Climate Action Incentive payments, through which the Government will return the majority of direct proceeds from the federal carbon pollution pricing system to individuals and families residing in provinces that do not meet the Canada-wide federal standard for reducing carbon pollution (Ontario, New Brunswick, Manitoba and Saskatchewan). Details on 2019 Climate Action Incentive payment amounts for each of these provinces are available in the attached backgrounder.
"For the past three years, our government's plan has been clear: we will invest to strengthen and grow the middle class, and offer real help to people working hard to join the middle class. Receiving Royal Assent on the second Budget Implementation Act for Budget 2018 is the next step in ensuring that we are able to continue this important work. By building on the hard work of Canadians and investing in the things that matter most to them, the Government is putting people first—with more help for women and families, greater assistance for low-income workers, more support for Canadian businesses, and continued progress on fighting climate change."
- Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance
