Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise today to speak to budget 2025, which was tabled by the Minister of Finance and National Revenue this week. My goal is to make my constituents aware of the benefits of this budget for the people of the Lower Laurentians and Rivière‑des‑Mille‑Îles.
This budget is a vision for a strong, responsible and ambitious Canada, a Canada that continues to invest in people while carefully managing public finances. We chose Canada. We want to invest in our country. That is our future. We want to build Canada strong.
We are in a period of global economic, social and technological transition. Canada and Quebec in particular must seize this moment to position themselves among the leaders of tomorrow. Budget 2025 offers them a smart way to do so. It invests more, but it spends more wisely. It is focused on what delivers real results: health, families, youth, seniors, businesses and local communities.
It does so without cutting programs that make a difference. All of our major federal programs have been maintained, which is important. All social programs have been maintained; they continue to help people, and many have even been improved. This budget is about progress, stability and confidence building.
If there is one measure that perfectly illustrates the philosophy behind this budget, it is the Canadian dental care plan. This program is transforming the lives of thousands of families across the country, including in my riding of Rivière‑des‑Mille‑Îles. The riding of Rivière‑des‑Mille‑Îles includes the municipalities of Deux‑Montagnes, Saint‑Eustache, Boisbriand and Rosemère in the suburbs north of Montreal. This budget is all about giving people back their dignity, their health and their smiles. This program is an investment in public health and social justice. It will help keep people out of emergency rooms, prevent complications and improve people's quality of life. I have said it before and will say it again: this budget does not cut any programs. On the contrary, it maintains and strengthens all the programs that support families, seniors and youth. This is proof that it is possible to invest and manage responsibly at the same time.
This budget provides concrete support to those who keep our health care system running. The new tax credit for personal support workers recognizes the essential contribution made by frontline workers. These are the folks who take care of our parents, our neighbours and our most vulnerable loved ones. Often working behind the scenes, they do exceptional work. I really admire these individuals. If it were not for them, I would not be here today. It is very important to emphasize that frontline workers are helping our seniors.
In Rivière‑des‑Mille‑Îles, this support will directly benefit the long-term care facilities, or CHSLDs, as well as seniors' homes and home care organizations. They deserve more than just our gratitude. They deserve meaningful support. This budget gives them that.
In my riding, seniors play a central role. They are the backbone of our families, our institutions and our values. The New Horizons for Seniors program, which was renewed in this budget, is a good example of that. It funds local projects that have a direct impact on the well-being of our seniors. This program is being carried out in every single riding. In Deux‑Montagnes, in my riding, the program helped renovate the roof of the Heritage Club, a community centre for seniors. The program also helped support and renovate the Lions Club, which also supports our community. These projects tell the stories of the people and the places where they gather, where they can break their isolation and stay active in community life. It strengthens the heart of our communities. It is part of our social fabric. In this budget, seniors are at the core of our vision for an inclusive and compassionate Canada.
While we recognize the contribution of seniors, we are also thinking about the next generation. Budget 2025 strengthens the Canada summer jobs program, a program that I am very familiar with and that is making a real difference in our communities. With nearly $600 million over two years, this program will create 100,000 summer jobs in 2026. For our young people, this is their first work experience, a source of pride and a gateway to the job market. In Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, young people are working for day camps, community organizations, small businesses and municipalities. This program is a game changer for families, because when there are affordable day camps that reduce costs, families can send their children there and continue to focus on their work. By giving our young people opportunities, we are building a stronger economy and a more confident country.
I also want to highlight the measures in the budget that support our entrepreneurs and SMEs. Before becoming an MP, I was an entrepreneur. I also had the honour of serving as the president of the Regroupement des gens d'affaires de Boisbriand. I am well aware that SMEs are the backbone of our economy. I also know how important it is to buy local. The renewed commitment to our buy Canadian policy is great news. Every time the federal government makes an investment, Canadian workers and Canadian businesses should be the first to benefit. Buying Canadian promotes our expertise, maintains our jobs and encourages regional economic growth. Entrepreneurs at industrial parks in Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, Boisbriand, Saint-Eustache and Deux-Montagnes are innovating every day. They are creating jobs, training apprentices, exporting their products and bolstering our collective pride. This budget sends them a clear message: The government believes in them.
Quebec is also an engine for innovation and for the future. Quebec has secured a win in this budget. Investments in artificial intelligence and in the aeronautics and aerospace industries will strengthen our leadership on the global stage. We have a huge number of great businesses in the aerospace sector in the Lower Laurentians, including L3Harris, Airbus, Bell Textron, and Safran. We also have great businesses in the transportation sector, including Nova Bus, which is building electric buses, and Paccar, which is building electric trucks. Sustained support is crucial to drive these businesses toward continued growth. I am also thinking of Kinova, a Boisbriand business that designs robotic solutions for the medical and mobility sectors. Kinova exemplifies the story of Quebec's talent in Boisbriand; it is a story of innovation and perseverance. Actually, I would like to take this opportunity to salute the people who work at Kinova. The measures in this budget will help businesses like Kinova continue to expand, create quality jobs, and showcase our skills around the world. These investments affirm Quebec's position as an economic partner and a driving force for Canada's transformation.
The budget also focuses on sustainable mobility and modern infrastructure. The high-speed rail project between Quebec City and Toronto will go through the north shore of Montreal and probably through Laval. This is a very exciting project and it will lower greenhouse gas emissions. One can envision the volume of vehicles travelling between the two cities that pass through Montreal. It is a great project, and it is now at the design stage. It is a visionary project that combines economic development and environmental responsibility.
I would also like to commend the government for its commitment to protecting the francophonie and linguistic minorities. French is not just a language. It is a culture, a way of looking at the world, and a common bond between communities. Budget 2025 has confirmed investments in culture and French-language media, including Radio-Canada. Preserving and promoting the French language also means standing up for our identity and our diversity. It also means doing more to preserve history across generations.
In conclusion, budget 2025 is a confidence-building budget. It supports families, workers, young people, and seniors. It promotes innovation, training, and job creation. It supports entrepreneurs and communities. We are choosing Canada. We are investing in our country. This is about our future. Let us build Canada strong together.