Minister Fortier meets with Business and Community Leaders in Windsor-Essex for Budget 2021 consultations

The government has a plan to make smart, targeted investments to jumpstart the country’s economic recovery so Canada can come roaring back after the pandemic.

That’s why, today, the Honourable Mona Fortier, Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance, met virtually with local businesses and community leaders from Windsor-Essex, to hear their ideas about how Budget 2021 can support families, workers and businesses and help the region become stronger, and more inclusive after the pandemic.

During this roundtable discussion, the Minister, joined by Irek Kusmierczyk, Member of Parliament for Windsor—Tecumseh and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, heard about investment opportunities in the region to create jobs for workers. 

The government is not simply aiming to get back to where we were before COVID-19. The pandemic has exposed critical gaps in our social safety net and the virus has hit certain sectors and groups of people harder than others – including seniors, women, low wage workers, young people, people of colour and Indigenous peoples. For all of these reasons and more, Budget 2021 will be among the most significant in Canadian history. By working together, we will build a stronger, more resilient middle class and grow an economy that improves the lives of every single person in Canada.

All Canadians are invited to share their ideas through an online questionnaire at LetsTalkBudget2021.ca, which will be available until February 19, 2021. 

Quotes

“Today’s roundtable was an excellent opportunity to meet with local businesses and community leaders from Windsor-Essex to hear about their priorities for Budget 2021. Building on today’s discussions, our government is hard at work on a growth plan to create good middle-class jobs in these communities as part of a greener and more competitive economy that leaves no one behind.”

– The Honourable Mona Fortier, Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance

“Our government will continue to do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to support communities like Windsor and Tecumseh through the second wave of this pandemic. It was insightful to meet virtually with local leaders to discuss their priorities and suggestions for Budget 2021. Our focus is on protecting the health and wellbeing of Canadians, while making targeted investments that grow jobs so our region can come roaring back when the pandemic is over.”

Irek Kusmierczyk, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion

Quick facts

• More than eight of every 10 dollars spent in Canada to fight COVID-19 and support Canadians has been spent by the federal government and this unprecedented support has prevented economic scarring and stabilized the economy.
• This includes programs like the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and the Canada Emergency Business Account, which were put in place to protect jobs through this crisis.
• To continue supporting workers and businesses, the Government of Canada has increased the maximum base wage subsidy rate to 75%, expanded the Canada Emergency Business Account, and launched the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy and Lockdown Support for businesses, among many other measures.
• Once the virus is under control, the Government of Canada will invest in a growth plan of roughly three to four per cent of GDP, between up to $70 and $100 billion, over three years, to jumpstart our recovery.
• Key to this stimulus plan will be smart, time-limited investments that can act fast and make a long-run contribution to Canada’s future shared prosperity, quality of life, competitiveness, and green transformation.