Madam Speaker, I rise to support the generational budget from the finance minister. We all listened very keenly to the budget speech given by the finance minister, and we have had a glance at the numerous very positive media reports on this ambitious, robust and confident budget. The budget, as it says on the cover, is what it says on the tin: It is here to build Canada strong.
It is an absolute privilege to stand here and talk about the responsible approach we have taken to setting up investments in key areas that are important to our country, investments that set the foundation for generations of success. The Prime Minister was right when he said that we cannot control what other countries do, but we can control what we build.
The “Canada Strong” budget is the biggest investment in our nation's infrastructure in a generation. It is a budget for all Canadians, and it delivers where it matters most for families: in jobs, health and safety. This is a budget that keeps Canadian dollars in Canada, working locally, building nationally, going everywhere and doing everything, all at once.
As I was going around my riding of Don Valley North this past weekend, what struck me was the absolute confidence that the electorate had in our Prime Minister's leadership and in this government's direction as we navigate a rapidly changing and more hostile world. People have come up to me and said that this is a budget for the times.
We can see why. When I met with youths at the S.E.A.S. Centre, Wordswell, IWOO, Working Women, and Newcomer Women's Services, many shared that through Canada summer jobs, they made their first meaningful connection to the workforce. At the Flemingdon Health Centre, I heard directly from staff how federal investments have helped them serve vulnerable residents with language programs, mental health support and community health resources. These are real examples of how the budget meets the moment.
The budget from the finance minister is our government's plan to build Canada into the strongest economy in the G7. It is focused on catalyzing Canada's growth over the longer term. That is good for the economy. Most importantly, it is good for Canadian families. In Don Valley North, families have told me what they value most in the budget: infrastructure, housing, community safety and health.
Because health is top of mind for every Canadian, let me highlight what the budget delivers. Residents in Don Valley North, from Bayview Village to Hillcrest to Henry Farm to Bayview Woods-Steeles to York Mills, all want a health care system that is modern, accessible and people-centred. Budget 2025 delivers exactly that.
The $5-billion health infrastructure fund would modernize hospitals, urgent care centres and ERs, and would expand medical schools so that families get care in spaces designed for today. The $97-million foreign credential recognition action fund would help internationally trained doctors, nurses and specialists get licensed faster. The national dental program, already helping seniors and children in Don Valley North, would be strengthened so that more families can access preventative care and avoid costly emergencies.
These health investments are not abstract. They are real improvements in people's daily lives.
Strengthening health care also means strengthening the research and innovation ecosystem that drives discovery, new treatments and long-term competitiveness. Budget 2025 makes some of the most significant research investments in more than a decade, strengthening Canadian leadership in life sciences, digital health, AI, biomanufacturing and clean technologies.
The budget also modernizes Canada's talent attraction strategy, ensuring that world-class researchers, scientists, engineers and innovators see Canada as the place to build their career. These investments will shape the future of medicine, improve patient care and support the health innovation economy that communities like Don Valley North are deeply connected to.
Health is shaped by more than clinical care. It is also shaped by nutrition, connection and the supports that help people thrive. Budget 2025 continues these investments.
At Cliffwood Public School, the national school food program ensures that students start their day nourished and ready to learn. Through the new horizons program, seniors at the Bayview Village Association stay active, engaged and socially connected, all proven determinants of better health. These are the very people who will feel the benefit of a stronger, more accessible health care system.
We are investing to make Canada the best country to be young and grow old in. From the tax credit for personal support workers to the tax cut for 22 million Canadians, we are building Canada strong. I am very proud, as a member of this government, to say “well done” to the Prime Minister and the finance minister for delivering the “Canada Strong” budget, a budget that is not merely an economic investment but a necessity for our sovereignty. Its long-term significance, I believe, will be absolute.
This budget reflects not only the values of our government, but the aspirations of the people of Don Valley North, people who believe in community, progress and building Canada strong for the next generation.