Canada’s new strategy for the Indo-Pacific region
Today, the Indo-Pacific region accounts for over four billion people, $47.19 trillion in economic activity, and is the world’s fastest-growing region. In less than two decades, the region will make up more than half of the global economy and will present Canada with significant opportunities and challenges.
Our new Indo-Pacific Strategy outlines nearly $2.3 billion in investments designed to deepen our engagement in the region. These investments will create good jobs here at home, provide opportunities for Canadian businesses, and accelerate the transition to a clean economy by leveraging and expanding Canada’s expertise in areas like critical minerals.
Given that the stability of the Indo-Pacific is essential to global stability, Canada will reinforce its Pacific naval presence and increase Canadian Armed Forces participation in regional military exercises. We will also enhance our cooperation with Japan and South Korea and work with our Arctic partners to uphold our Arctic sovereignty.
The decisions made in the region will impact Canadians for generations, and it is critical that Canada has a seat and voice at the table. I encourage you to read the full strategy.
Reducing Child Care Fees by Half
Across Canada, we have seen our Child Care Plan help parents with affordability, create new jobs and child care spaces, bring women into the workforce, and ensure our children have the best possible start in life. The end of 2022 saw fees for licensed Ontario child care operators reduced by an average of 50 percent. By bringing prices down to an average of $23 per day, Ontario families will save as much as $6,000 per child yearly.
Canadians can ill-afford to lose these gains. That is why we introduced Bill C-35 to enshrine the principles of our Early Learning and Child Care System into law and to provide long-term, predictable funding to our partners. With strong federal investments in child care, we are well on our way to achieving the $10-a-day target by 2025-26.
Making Canada a Leader in EVs
Canada is positioned to become a global leader in building electric vehicles thanks to its skilled workforce and rich critical mineral deposits. As the world transitions to a net-zero economy, our Critical Minerals Strategy will leverage Canadian nickel, lithium and aluminum to create good, middle-class jobs that workers can rely on.
As of today, Canada’s battery supply chain is ranked second in the world since being the fifth-best in 2021. When electric vehicles are made from Canadian minerals, assembled by Canadian auto workers, and powered by Canadian-made chargers, we secure and create jobs, grow our economy, and protect the environment.
To help more Canadians shift to electric vehicles, we will continue to expand our Incentives for Zero Emission Vehicles (iZEV) program, which provides up to $5,000 to purchase or lease an electric vehicle. We will also continue to build our Canada-wide EV charging network.
Connect with Us
As always, my team and I are happy to hear your thoughts, answer any questions, and assist you with any federal matters. You can always contact my office at 416-283-1414 or Gary.Anand@parl.gc.ca