As Ottawa marks one year since the “Freedom Convoy” arrived in the national capital, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau He said he understood the anger and concerns of the protesters.
Dozens of people gathered outside parliament on Saturday to mark the anniversary as Liberal Party members were taking part in their caucus retreat, discussing their upcoming priorities when the House of Commons reopens on Monday.
“We can feel it, what a tough time it is right now. “We have a global economic downturn, combined with inflation combined with cripplingly high interest rates,” Trudeau said Saturday ahead of a meeting with Liberal lawmakers.
“A lot of people are feeling a lot of pressure.”
Trudeau said he expected a global economic downturn for the next six to 12 months, but promised that his Liberal government would provide more targeted support without raising inflation.
He said liberals and New Democrats want the same thing to happen at the next meeting, like expanding dental care.
Other shared priorities under their trust-and-supply agreement include pharmacare legislation this year, and the introduction of a “Just Transition” bill to help build a green economy that includes protections for energy workers.
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said the government is just getting started when it comes to job creation within the green energy sector, citing recent industrial investments in Ontario.
Last year, Champagne announced that his government was giving $259 million to General Motors of Canada to advance electric vehicle manufacturing in Oshawa, Ontario. The government says the investment will create thousands of jobs.
“I would say last year was the appetizer. The main course is this year,” Champagne said on Saturday.
“We will have even more for Canadians.”
Trudeau said part of his government’s agreement with the New Democrats, which was signed last March, is about creating good jobs in the future.
Trudeau said, “Canada is well positioned for years to come, and we must bring Canadians together during this difficult time.”
“I look forward to doing this in Parliament, and quite frankly I know what Canadians will do. In tough times we pull together. We don’t raise our hands and say everything is broken.
Trudeau was referring to Pierre Poilievre who said “everything seems to be broken” in Canada when the Conservative leader addressed his caucus on Friday.
Canada’s economy is facing a “turbulent” year, but the federal government still has some spending room for big priorities like a new health care deal with the provinces, Associate Finance Minister Randy Boissonault said this week. Initially said at the Liberal cabinet retreat in Hamilton.
On February 7, Trudeau is set to meet with Canadian premiers to discuss further health care funding, but the amount is still unclear.
“We’ll find out in about eight or nine days from now,” Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said on Saturday, which marked the last day of the Liberal caucus retreat.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on January 28, 2023.
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