Ottawa – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland talked on legislation to build more rental homes and stabilizing grocery prices. She said:
Good afternoon.
Our government is relentlessly focused on building an economy with stable prices, steady growth, and abundant, well-paying, middle-class jobs. As Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, this is my most urgent priority. That is why it was so important for me this morning to introduce—as our government’s first piece of legislation for this fall—the Affordable Housing and Groceries Act.
Our Prime Minister promised last week, with all of us standing beside him, that we would take these actions—and we are delivering on that today. This legislation will:
- Enhance competition across the economy, with a focus on the grocery sector to help stabilize grocery prices for Canadians; and
- Remove the GST on the construction of new apartment buildings to help get more rental homes built, faster.
At the same time, we are supporting our small businesses by extending the CEBA term loan repayment deadline by one year. These are real, concrete solutions that will make life more affordable for Canadians. More competition will ease sticker shock at the grocery checkout line. Eliminating the GST will get more housing built faster so that more Canadians can have an affordable place to call home. And small business owners will get some much-needed breathing space.
We are going to stay focused on creating great careers, investing in the middle class, and addressing the challenges that matter most to Canadians. I am very much looking forward to working with our team, led by the Prime Minister, to do just that this fall. Today is one important step and we will have more to say and to announce in the weeks to come.
Thank you very much.