Karina Gould
Hon. Karina Gould
Member of Parliament for Burlington
Speech from the Throne 2020
September 23, 2020

Dear Friends, 

We continue to face an unprecedented pandemic. Over the past six months, we have come together to flatten the curve and gradually reopen the economy. As we steal ourselves for a potential second wave of COVID-19 in Canada, the Federal government is committed to being there for you and your family.
 
Today's Speech from the Throne laid the foundation of our Government's plan to address the immediate needs of Canadians, protecting their health and economic well-being, as well as how we will safely build back Canada, together.
 
The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light on the cracks in our social safety net. We recognize that we need to modernize the Employment Insurance System so that it works for Canadians in the 21st Century. The Prime Minister also made important commitments to modernize the supports and programs we provide for Canadians with disabilities to ensure they are not only dignified but also provide pathways to meaningful employment.
 
Women, as we know, have been disproportionately impacted through the pandemic. I am exceptionally proud to see the commitment to creating a Canada-wide early learning and childcare system, something I have been advocating for since I was first elected.
 
In addition to building off our commitments to increase OAS for those over the age of 75 as well as the survivor’s benefits for CPP, the Prime Minister made an important commitment to work with the provinces on National Standards for Long-Term Care (LTC) and an update to the Criminal Code to hold those who look after our elders to account. The crisis in LTC existed before COVID-19, we have a moral obligation to respond, even if it is a provincial jurisdiction.
 
It is a clear that COVID-19 is still with us. If we are to place Canada in a strong position for economic recovery, we understand that we will need to bridge our businesses who have been hard hit by the pandemic to the other side. That means expanding and improving programs like the Canada Emergency Business Account and the Business Credit Availability Program. It also means laying the foundation for a transformation to a cleaner and greener future. We will continue to make important investments in clean technology and the jobs of the future, that will not only help us reach and exceed our 2030 targets to reduce emissions, but also set our economy up for success over the next decade. Personally, I am very excited about the urbans parks initiative and the potential that has for conservation efforts right here in Burlington.

Addressing systemic inequality, anti-black racism and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, will be central to our work.  We have laid out a comprehensive plan to tackle these injustices that have held Canada, and too many Canadians back. This will not be easy work, but it is important to get it right and keep moving Canada forward.
 
The plan presented to Canadians today is an ambitious one. It seeks to do what is necessary to keep Canadians healthy and safe as we continue to face this global health emergency, while laying the groundwork to enable Canadians and Canadian businesses to flourish once we get through this pandemic.
 
It has been a whole-of-country response to date. And it has been costly. But I remind myself that inaction would be even costlier: economically but also in lives lost. We are committed to preserve Canada’s fiscal advantage and to make responsible fiscal decisions, guided by Canadian values of sustainability and prudence.

Together, we will work to build a Canada that is more resilient, healthier, and safer. These are but a few of the many tasks that our Government looks to accomplish in the months and years to come. I encourage you to read, or watch, the full Speech from the Throne here. This is our opportunity to contain the crisis and build back better, together. Let us all continue to do our part. The Federal Government will continue to be there for you.

Sincerely,


Hon. Karina Gould
Member of Parliament
Burlington

To read or watch the full Speech from the Throne, please consult the link found here.

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