The Prime Minister Justin Trudeau-led federal government has unearthed plans to tackle some challenges affecting Blacks in the nation.
This development was contained in the 2023 budget presented by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland.
In the budget, titled “A Made-In-Canada Plan: Strong Middle Class, Affordable Economy, Healthy Future,” the government outlined its plan to build a stronger and more resilient economy for everyone.
It included significant measures that the government has put forward in the 2023 Federal Budget to support Black communities from coast to coast to coast.
To continue empowering Black-led and Black-serving community organizations and the work they do to promote inclusiveness, the government said it is investing $25 million in funding for the Supporting Black Canadians Communities Initiative (SBCCI).
The Federal Budget also pledged support for a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive Public Service.
According to the budget, $45.9 million will be invested over three years, starting in 2023-2024, to create a Mental Health Fund for Black public servants and establish dedicated career development programs, including to prepare Black public service leaders for executive positions.
In order to address wrongful convictions and make sure the criminal justice system is fair and equitable, the federal budget proposed to provide $83.9 million over five years, starting in 2023-24, and $18.7 million ongoing to Justice Canada for the independent Miscarriage of Justice Review Commission.
Reacting to the budget, the Ontario government said the Budget 2023 makes transformative investments to build Canada’s clean economy, fight climate change, and create new opportunities for Canadian businesses and Canadian workers. “This includes significant measures that will deliver cleaner and more affordable energy, support investment in our communities and the creation of good-paying jobs, and ensure that Canadian workers are able to produce and provide the goods and resources that Canadians and our allies need”.
With a responsible fiscal plan that will see Canada maintain the lowest deficit and the lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7, Budget 2023 will help to build a Canada that is more secure, more sustainable, and more affordable for people from coast to coast to coast, the government said.
“I have never been more optimistic about the future of our country than I am today. Budget 2023 will deliver new, targeted inflation relief for the Canadians who need it most; stronger public health care, including dental care for millions of Canadians; and significant investments to build Canada’s clean economy. At a challenging time in a challenging world, there is no better place to be than Canada,” Freeland said during the budget presentation.
