Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday outlined a bold legislative plan to address the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, promising to support Canadians throughout the crisis and do “whatever it takes”.
Calling the proposal an “ambitious plan for an unprecedented reality”, the Canadian government vowed to create more than a million jobs and has also committed to extending the wage subsidy program until next year along with support to industries most affected by the coronavirus crisis, like the travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors.
The roadmap, which was delivered as part of a throne speech to the Parliament read by Governor General Julie Payette, also pointed to the government’s resolve to make sweeping reforms to address issues of homelessness, the harsh effects of climate change, and to introduce new social programs aimed at helping working women and families—all of which would help boost economic recovery. There was also a promise to work towards a national childcare program, find additional ways to tax extreme wealth equality and introduce new standards for long-term care homes, which have been a massive source of Canada’s 9,000+ virus-related deaths.
“This is not the time for austerity,” the speech read, adding that the Trudeau administration will “do whatever it takes, using whatever fiscal firepower is needed to support people and businesses during the pandemic”.
Given the lofty promises, not all were convinced. Trudeau’s political opponents from the Conservative Party immediately criticized the plan for lacking any kind of fiscal constraint, and said that it was just another speech filled with “liberal buzzwords and grand gestures”. They also said that the proposal did not include enough measures to support specifically small businesses and to address issues of national unity.
The goals outlined in the speech will require Parliamentary approval, which will also serve as a test of whether the government has the “confidence” of the majority. If all three opposition parties reject the Liberal government’s proposals, it could prompt a snap election in the middle of a pandemic. The Tories and the Bloc Quebecois have said that they would not be supporting the plan, while the New Democratic Party has not yet said if it would back the government’s proposal.
Trudeau Proposes Bold COVID-19 Recovery Plan in Throne Speech
The Canadian government has said that it will “do whatever it takes, using whatever fiscal firepower is needed to support people and businesses during the pandemic”.
September 24, 2020
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and Governor General Julie Payette SOURCE: GLOBAL NEWS