If I wasn't here, I would want to speak to this matter because it is an important matter, and I know that it affects all of us. We are all impacted by intimate partner violence. We all know someone. Even if we don't think we know someone, we know someone. I've learned that.
Ms. Normandin, I was sorry to hear about another death in Quebec only a few days ago. News like that is heartbreaking.
To keep building strong communities, over the next two years the government will also invest in all types of infrastructure, including public transit, energy efficient retrofits, clean energy, rural broadband, and affordable housing, particularly for indigenous peoples and northern communities.
Once again, if Minister Freeland were here with us, she could clarify some of the ideas put forward in the throne speech and the reasons for these investments.
Can't we recognize once again that this pandemic has shown clearly who the most vulnerable people are?
In the last six months, many more people have worked from home, done classes from the kitchen table, shopped online, and accessed government services remotely. So it has become more important than ever that all Canadians have access to the Internet.
We have all had the experience of working from home and occasionally having technical problems. We need to make the investments required for all Canadians to have access to Internet services. They are no longer a luxury, and have become a necessity.
The government will accelerate the connectivity timelines and ambitions of the Universal Broadband Fund to ensure that all Canadians, no matter where they live, have access to high-speed Internet.
Where I live, in Moncton, we receive really good services from my small province of New Brunswick. I always say that we can thank Frank McKenna, the former premier of the province, because he understood what the future would bring, and the required investments were made for us in the province. It's very good.
I'm going to continue to explain to you why I support my colleague Mr. Turnbull's amendment. To further help our communities, the government will work with partners to support regional routes for airlines. It is essential that Canadians have access to reliable and affordable regional air services. It is an issue of equity, of jobs, and of economic development. The government will work to support this.
So we can see that many changes are happening in the regions. We want the economy to restart, and investments are definitely going to be made in the regions.
No one should be without a place to stay during a pandemic or a Canadian winter. In October 2020, the government invested more than $1 billion for people experiencing homelessness. Last fall, Minister Hussen invested this amount to create rapid housing. I believe that those who will get a home have just learned that their applications were approved. To be sure, there were many more applications than the number of homes available, because they came from several regions across Canada. However, people are obtaining more and more assistance and funds have been invested.
I know that in Moncton, the homeless situation has been much more visible in recent years. Once again, the pandemic has highlighted these truly vulnerable people. That's why I'm happy that the minister made these investments.
That is another area on which Minister Freeland could provide us with further details. She could also explain to us what led to these investments, and how they came to be announced in the throne speech.
In 2017, the government announced that it would reduce chronic homelessness by 50 percent. It has already helped more than a million people get a safe and affordable place to call home. Given the progress that has been made, and our commitment to do more, the government is now focused on entirely eliminating chronic homelessness in Canada.
At the same time, the government will also make substantial investments in housing for Canadians.
I'm really looking forward to tomorrow, because a special announcement will be made in my region. A group there has been doing incredible work and handling the initiative to create rapid housing. Together, we're going to make an announcement tomorrow about something that will provide considerable assistance to my community.
The government will add to the historic National Housing Strategy announced in 2017 by increasing investments to rapid housing in the short term, and partnering with not-for-profits and co-ops in the mid- to long-term. For the middle class, the government will also move forward with enhancements to the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive, including in Canada’s largest cities, so families can afford to buy their first home. Once more, I think that Minister Freeland could come and speak to us about this.
As a result of the pandemic, people from big cities in Ontario and even Western Canada have been choosing to move to our province or one of the other beautiful Atlantic provinces where housing is more affordable. That's a good thing, but it has been driving up the cost of housing here. That's why I'm very pleased that our government is helping people to purchase their first home. Housing is something everyone deserves, and it’s also a key driver of the economy. Construction projects create jobs, and having a home is critical so people can contribute to their communities.
Just as everyone deserves a home, everyone deserves to be able to put nutritious food on the table. Everyone should have food in the refrigerator. The pandemic has made that harder for Canadians. Canada will continue to work with partners—including directly with first nations, Inuit, and Métis nation partners—to address food insecurity in Canada. The government will also strengthen local food supply chains here in Canada. Here again, I think that Minister Freeland could probably tell us more about it.
The foreign workers who produce, harvest, and process our food—from people picking fruit to packing seafood—have done an outstanding job getting good food to Canadians. They deserve the government’s full support and protection. The government will ensure that those in Canada’s supply managed sectors receive full and fair compensation for recent trade agreements. Farmers keep our families fed, and we will continue to help them succeed and grow.
This pandemic has revealed gaps in health, housing, and food supply. And it has also maintained the inequalities Canadians face in the workforce. We have an opportunity to not only support Canadians, but also grow their potential.
Working with the provinces and territories, the government will make the largest investment in Canadian history in training for workers. This will include supporting Canadians as they build new skills in growing sectors, helping workers receive education and accreditation, and strengthening workers’ futures, by connecting them to employers and good jobs, in order to grow and strengthen the middle class.
From researchers developing vaccines, to entrepreneurs building online stores, this pandemic has reminded us of the power of the knowledge economy, and how vital it is for our future. Canadians are leading, and they should have state-of-the-art government services. The government will make generational investments in updating outdated IT systems to modernize the way that government serves Canadians, from the elderly to the young, from people looking for work to those living with a disability.
The government will also work to introduce free, automatic tax filing for simple returns to ensure citizens receive the benefits they need. Government must remain agile, and ready for what lies ahead.
I would like to end with a few comments about combating climate change. As I was saying earlier, a number of priorities have been changed compared to the 2019 and 2020 priorities. However, climate change is a priority for this generation, and we need to move ahead.
Climate action will be a cornerstone of our plan to support and create a million jobs across the country. This is where the world is going. Global consumers and investors are demanding and rewarding climate action. Canadians have the determination and ingenuity to rise to this challenge and global market opportunity. We can create good jobs today and a globally competitive economy not just next year, but in 2030, 2040, and beyond.
Canadians also know climate change threatens their health, their way of life, and their planet. They want climate action now, and that is what the government will continue to deliver. I know that some people are still wondering about the climate crisis. We Liberals know that it really is a priority for Canadians.
The government will immediately bring forward a plan to exceed Canada’s 2030 climate goal. It will also legislate Canada’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and will reach this goal.
As part of its plan, the government will create thousands of jobs retrofitting buildings, cutting energy costs for Canadian families and businesses. We're going to invest in reducing the impact of climate-related disasters like floods and wildfires to make communities safer and more resilient.
The 2020 throne speech made it clear that climate change issues are a real priority. Once again, if Ms. Freeland were to appear, she could give us her point of view on the inclusion of climate change issues in the throne speech.
We also want to assist Canadians by helping to deliver more transit and active transit options, and making zero-emission vehicles more affordable while investing in more charging stations across the country. Zero-emission vehicles are somewhat more expensive and we want to make them more affordable for Canadians. Based on the various programs that have been established, it's clear that we are well on our way.
A good example of adapting to a carbon-neutral future is the zero-emission battery. Canada has the nickel and copper resources needed for these clean technologies. This, combined with Canadian expertise, is Canada’s competitive edge.
To top it off, the government will launch a new fund to attract investments in making zero-emission products and cut the corporate tax rate in half for these companies to create jobs and make Canada a world leader in clean technology. The government will ensure Canada is the most competitive country in the world for clean technology companies.
In the throne speech, several priorities were clearly tied to the pandemic. What we really want to do is build a better world and a better society. When we talk about building back better, we want to be sure that we can make the investments needed to build a better and more prosperous society for everyone.
Additionally, the government wants to transform our economy and communities by moving forward with the Clean Power Fund, and projects like the Atlantic Loop that will connect surplus clean power to regions transitioning away from coal. The Atlantic Loop project is really galvanizing us, and it is a priority for our region.
The government will support investments in renewable energy and next-generation clean energy and technology solutions. Canada cannot reach net zero without the know-how of the energy sector, and the innovative ideas of all Canadians, including people in places like British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
By creating good-paying and long-lasting jobs, we want to support manufacturing, natural resource, and energy sectors as they work to transform to meet a net zero future.
We want to recognize farmers, foresters, and ranchers as key partners in the fight against climate change by supporting their efforts to reduce emissions and build resilience.
The government will continue its policy of putting a price on pollution, while putting that money back in the pockets of Canadians. We cannot be free to pollute. I think that the court was very clear on this matter in its decision today. This pandemic has reminded Canadians of the importance of nature. The government will work with municipalities.