Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Bay of Quinte.
We are facing the greatest threat to our sovereignty in generations. Unjustified tariffs are hurting Canadian businesses, workers and families, while global instability is disrupting our supply chains and driving uncertainty to levels we have not seen in decades. We are being confronted with a new and evolving set of challenges. The fact is, the world has changed and Canada must change with it. Budget 2025 is a call to action to protect what we have, build the Canada of the future and empower Canadians to drive this change.
History shows us the way. In a time of global crisis, C.D. Howe transformed Canada from an agricultural economy into a modern industrial powerhouse. Under Howe's tenure, Canada quadrupled our national industrial production, built the St. Lawrence Seaway and modernized Canada's largest cities. At the time, we created the department of defence production to streamline procurement, turning Canada into the fourth-largest producer of war materials in the allied forces even though we had one of the smallest populations. Howe understood that transforming Canada's economy required significant investment to jump-start factories and to modernize Canada's infrastructure.
We do not have to look abroad when our own history offers a clear blueprint to build Canada strong. Just as Howe responded to the existential threat of global war with industrial might, we must respond to today's economic threats with the same ingenuity, resolve and conviction. He knew then, as we know now, that we cannot cut our way to growth; we must invest.
The era of relying solely on deeply integrated trade with the United States is over. Our country cannot be subject to the whims of any foreign leader, and we must build infrastructure, industry and sustainable development projects at speeds that we have not seen in generations.
We are investing over $60 billion in capital investment for the infrastructure of the future, including nuclear power, carbon capture, critical minerals, offshore wind and high-speed rail. The new Major Projects Office will fast-track these nation-building projects and coordinate financing to help build projects faster. These projects will connect our country, attract needed capital and create high-paying jobs.
Beyond the Major Projects Office, we are making investments in research and development to foster innovation and increase productivity. We are cutting red tape that slows private investment, and our government has already passed the One Canadian Economy Act, which removes federal trade barriers.
Our buy Canadian policy will catalyze our vast natural resources so that we can be our own best customer. When we build, we will do so first with Canadian goods and suppliers. We will build our country with Canadian steel, Canadian aluminum, Canadian lumber and Canadian workers.
I have a background in climate finance, and the importance of building a low-carbon economy in the face of mounting climate risks cannot be overstated. By leveraging strategic tax credits to spur private investment in clean technology and carbon capture, we will position Canada at the forefront of clean energy and advanced manufacturing, turning innovation into sustainable growth.
Budget 2025 also invests in the technology of the future, with dedicated funding for advanced robotics, quantum computing and AI infrastructure that will firmly establish Canada's place as a global leader. These technologies will power the next generation of Canadian industry, from clean energy to precision agriculture, and will turn growth into jobs for Canadians.
However, to build prosperity, we must protect what we have. As foreign conflicts and economic instability increase the risks we face, we must enhance our existing strengths and build new ones.
Our new government is investing $81.1 billion in national defence, which represents the largest increase in defence spending in generations. Our defence industrial strategy will strengthen our industrial capabilities, will give us the tools we need to meet our defence requirements and will confront the crises of the 21st century.
To this end, our new government has created the Defence Investment Agency, which will overhaul and streamline Canada's defence procurement. This new agency will build domestic manufacturing and supply chains so the Canadian Armed Forces have the world-class equipment they need and deserve. These investments will help Canada realize its NATO commitments and enhance our collective security.
Our new government is also taking measures to protect Canadians here at home through the toughest anti-trafficking and border protection laws in Canadian history, protecting our communities from gun trafficking and illegal drugs like fentanyl. To support this initiative we are hiring 1,000 new RCMP personnel and 1,000 new CBSA officers to enforce these laws and keep our country safe, while stricter bail and sentencing laws will ensure that repeat violent offenders are behind bars.
Finally, budget 2025 will make life more affordable by spending less on government operations so we can refocus investment to grow our economy and protect the programs that make life more affordable for Canadians. We have already cut income taxes for 22 million Canadians and launched automatic federal benefits for the 2026 tax year, which will reach up to 5.5 million low-income Canadians to ensure they receive the critical government benefits they qualify for.
We have removed the HST for first-time homebuyers, helping more young Canadians achieve the dream of home ownership. Build Canada Homes will catalyze the creation of an entirely new Canadian housing industry that uses modern methods of construction to boost productivity and at scale, which will help add more housing and a diversity of housing for more Canadians.
Our government is also protecting the programs that matter most to Canadians, programs such as pharmacare, dental care and child care. Canada's social safety net is the envy of the world and we will protect the programs Canadians rely on. This is a nation-building moment. Just as in C.D. Howe's time we built the railways, the seaway and the transcontinental highway, our new government is building the digital, energy and transportation networks that will power Canada into the 21st century. These investments will connect Canadians, strengthen our economy and protect our sovereignty. Budget 2025 is a blueprint for a stronger, more resilient Canada, a Canada better positioned to manage the challenges of this new age of instability.
We do not choose the times we live in, but we do choose how we respond. Budget 2025 is a part of our answer. We will build big. We will act fast, and we will build a Canada that stands strong, sovereign and united because we believe in Canada.