Dear Friends,  

 
Today, Her Excellency the Right Honorable Mary May Simon, the Governor General of Canada delivered the 44th Parliament's Speech from the Throne 2021 and laid out the Government of Canada’s plan to build a resilient economy.  

Our plan will finish the fight against COVID-19, take strong climate action, make life more affordable, walk the shared path of reconciliation, put home ownership back in reach, create jobs, and grow the middle class.  

In the last election, Canadians sent a clear message to parliamentarians: they want us to work together to put this pandemic behind us, and they expect us to deliver results and solutions to the other challenges we face.  Our government will continue to remain focused on moving Canada forward – for everyone. 

The best way to finish the fight against COVID-19 is vaccination. We have made significant progress with over 86% of Canadians aged 12 and up receiving two doses of COVID-19 vaccines. We have also mandated that federal and federally regulated workers be vaccinated, along with everyone travelling within Canada by plane, train, or cruise ship.  

Last week, Health Canada approved vaccines for children aged 5-11 and the government continues to secure booster shots. In days, Canada will have enough doses to provide every eligible child with a first dose, marking an important step toward providing additional protection for our young Canadians. We’ll also continue to work with provinces and territories to ensure the distribution of these doses across the country, and work with Pfizer to ensure second doses are delivered at the appropriate time. Vaccine appointments for children aged 5-11 are now open on Halton Region’s website, linked here.  

As we put the pandemic behind us, we must rebuild an economy that truly works for everyone. We will work to tackle the rising cost of living and take action on housing affordability and childcare. So far, our Government has signed nine agreements with the provinces and territories, and as the Minister of Families, Children, and Social Development, I will build get the job done on $10/day childcare.  

To create a more resilient economy, we must take strong and bold action on climate change. We are moving forward to cap and cut oil and gas sector emissions, invest in public transit, and mandating the sale of zero-emissions vehicles. We will continue to invest in workers and industry, to bring our economy into a greener future.  

Earlier this year, we as a country were collectively devastated and horrified by the discovery of unmarked graves near former residential schools. We must continue to tell these truths so we can right our past wrongs, and walk the path of reconciliation, together. Our Government will support Indigenous communities by investing in mental health and wellness, and respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and appoint a special interlocutor to further advance justice on the legacy of residential schools.  

Our Government will also work with Indigenous partners to address the national tragedy of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and we will ensure fair and equitable compensation for those harmed by the First Nations Child and Family Services program. 

We will also fight for safer communities – because everyone deserves to feel safe, no matter where they call home. The Government of Canada has taken strong action to ban more than 1,500 types of assault weapons – but there is more to do. We will implement a mandatory buyback of assault style weapons and work with provincial and territorial counterparts to ban handguns. Our 10-year National Action on Gender Based Violence will move forward, and will continue to support organizations that provide critical service. 

Everyone also deserves to feel safe regardless of their gender, who they love, where they come from, what language they speak, who they pray to, or the colour of their skin. The federal government will continue to stand up for Black and racialized Canadians, Indigenous Peoples, and LGBTQ2+ communities and fight against systemic racism, sexism, and discrimination. 

As Governor General Simon said, “this decade is still young. With compassion, courage, and determination, we have the power to make it better than how it started”.  

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