Today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, delivered this year’s Economic and Fiscal Update.

This update provides Canadians with a transparent look at our nation’s finances and our plan to finish the fight against COVID-19, make life more affordable for Canadians, and ensure our economic recovery leaves no one behind.

The Economic and Fiscal Update outlines the Government of Canada’s plan to:

• Ensure that booster shots are free for Canadians in all provinces and territories;
• Protect children by making sure that Canada has the pediatric vaccines needed for children five and over to get their shots;
• Procure millions of rapid tests free to provinces, territories, and Indigenous communities;
• Invest in new anti-viral drugs for COVID-19 patients that prevent hospitalizations and can save lives and in building ventilation improvementsto prevent outbreaks at schools and workplaces;
• Support works and businesses through new programs like Local Lockdown Support and the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit; and
• Move forward on ten days of paid sick leave for workers in federally-regulated businesses.

There are challenges ahead and the future remains uncertain, but we will continue to have Canadians’ backs as we recover from this pandemic.

Click here for the Economic and Fiscal Update and for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance's speech.

To access a translated version of this article in Chinese, click here.