Check against delivery

Thank you, Diana.

This room is remarkable.

Remarkable because of what you did.

Remarkable because of what we’re going to do together.

You were there in January when it was minus twenty, when the doors weren’t opening, and you knocked anyway.

You were there, when you answered the phone at midnight because it couldn’t wait until morning.

You were there, when you mobilized your neighbours, colleagues, and friends.

You were there, when you drove three hours in the April rain to make sure every poll had a scrutineer.

You showed up, again and again, for a better future for all Canadians.

You showed up because you’re all in for Canada.

Right across this country – on family farms, in schools, factories, and stores – people are having the same conversation.

Reaching the same conclusion…

Canada is worth fighting for.

A year ago, in the midst of a blizzard, we started down the road to make the best country in the world even better.

We should be under no illusions—the path we’ve chosen is hard.

There will be head winds, black ice, and steep climbs along the way.

We will have to be pragmatic and determined to keep moving forward.

But this is the journey we must make.

Because we are meeting in the middle of a transformation that will define this country for generations.

And Canadians sense it.

In the past year, 300,000 new members have joined the Liberal Party.

Canadians who had voted for other parties in the past are now placing their trust in us for the future.

And this is true in every province and territory across Canada.

Members of Parliament have crossed the floor to join our team.

They understand the importance of what is at stake.

They believe that, together, we can get more done.

Premiers, of all political stripes, are working with us and each other.

Canadians are uniting to build Canada Strong.

The world is changing, not gradually but suddenly.

Some are still in denial. Rather than starting this journey, they’re waiting for the past to return.

But hope isn’t a plan, and nostalgia isn’t a strategy.

If we stand still during this rupture, we will surrender our future to others.

My friends, technological change is accelerating. We can either shape our future with AI or let it control our destiny.

The foundations of the international order, the order which Canada helped build and from which we have long benefitted, are crumbling.

Many of our former strengths – based on close ties with the US – have become vulnerabilities.

We understood these changes early.

Other countries are only starting to recognize them.

But while we’re over the shock of the betrayal, we must never forget the lessons.

We have to take care of ourselves.

And we have to take care of each other.

My dear friends, the path ahead will sometimes be difficult, but we will emerge a stronger, fairer country…

…if we all stand together.

This is not the time for politics as usual.

For petty differences or political point scoring.

United, we will build Canada Strong, a Canada Strong for all— A Canada Strong that no one can ever take away.

At this decisive moment, Canadians are demonstrating just how strong we are.

It started quietly. People choosing a wine from the Okanagan over one from California.

A family planning a vacation to Prince Edward Island instead of booking flights to Florida.

Canadians rediscovering our country.

The Cabot Trail in October.

The Columbia Icefield in June.

The Montréal International Jazz Festival in July.

The Prairies at harvest, where the sky goes on forever.

Canada’s tourism sector had a record-breaking summer — 50,000 more train rides; 13% more visits to our National Parks, 15% more trips to our national museums.

Small acts of solidarity. Repeated millions of times.

Together, they make a statement: we are the masters of our destiny.

Of everything Canadians have done this past year, the most moving has been how we have looked out for each other, including amidst the worst tragedies.

Think of the good people of Tumbler Ridge. When the unimaginable happened, first responders were at the school within two minutes.

Teachers shielded their children.

Neighbours held each other for comfort.

Right after the shooting, Jim Caruso packed his bags and traveled over 1,000 kilometres to support families.

Jim said, “I want to hug people, pray for them, and most importantly, cry with them.”

That’s Canada: looking out for each other and standing together when things get tough, so they can get better.

I’m right there with you. Canada’s new government is right there with you.

Inspired by the behaviour of hard-working Canadians.

From now on, with our new Buy Canadian Policy, when the federal government spends, we will select Canadian suppliers by default.

The days of Canada’s military sending 70 cents of every dollar to the United States are over.

We’re going to build Canada strong with Canadian steel, Canadian aluminum, Canadian lumber, Canadian workers.

We are starting in our communities.

By building affordable, accessible, and sustainable housing.

And by building new hospitals, public transit infrastructure, recreational facilities, and arts centres.

Because Canada Strong means Surrey Strong, Nepean Strong, and Sherbrooke Strong.

We’re building big things again by removing all federal barriers to internal trade and fast-tracking projects that will connect, diversify, and propel our economy.

We have already announced fourteen nation-building initiatives, supporting over half a million jobs and over $100 billion in new investment.

We are realising Canada’s full potential in clean and conventional energy to power Canadian homes, Canadian businesses, and Canadian sovereignty.

And we’re using our resources to ensure affordable energy for Canadians today and a competitive economy for our kids tomorrow.

We are creating new trade corridors from the Mackenzie Valley to Contrecœur and Churchill to make Canada more connected, more independent, and more prosperous.

We have struck twenty new economic and security partnerships on four continents in just a year.

We are on track to double our non-U.S. exports over the next decade.

That’s $300 billion in new orders for Canadian resources, Canadian goods, and Canadian expertise.

In parallel, our new Defence Industrial Strategy will catalyse half a trillion dollars of investment to build Canadian industry from Aerospace to AI, while creating over 125,000 new jobs.

We have just implemented the largest pay increase for the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces so their compensation matches the weight of their responsibilities.

Young Canadians are already responding to the call to serve, with recruitment up 13% since last June.

From the Coalition of the Willing to defend Ukraine to working with the Nordic countries to protect our Arctic, we are defending Canada and Canadian values with reliable partners.

In a more dangerous and divided world, we are no longer relying just on the strength of our values. We are also building the value of our strength.

With these bold approaches, we are reviving the ambitious spirit that built Canada.

Our country was forged by Indigenous peoples and voyageurs who mapped the continent and built vast trading networks from coast to coast to coast before the Americans had even left St. Louis.

When the Second World War ended, Canadians came together to achieve great things.

Building new neighbourhoods for hundreds of thousands of returning Veterans.

Building new universities to launch new careers.

Connecting our land through the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Trans-Canada Highway.

And inspiring the world through Expo 67.

My friends, we used to explore in this country. We’re charting new courses again.

We used to build in this country. We’re building big, building fast, and building bold again.

We used to take risks in this country. And now, we’re going to the moon.

The other day, speaking from Integrity deep in space, Canada’s Astronaut Jeremy Hansen advised us that, as a country, we have to be willing to take risks, recognize that we will have some setbacks, but push through them…

and, in his words, “ultimately know we are going to persist and win.”

A united, ambitious and confident Canada is once again taking risks to build a Canada that works for all.

About a year ago, I received a letter from Bob Zettel, who wrote:

“Right now, everyone sees the main threat as the Trump tariffs.

But the far greater challenge will be, as it has always been, to foster unity and a sense of the common good.”

Bob’s right.

Canadians are being called to serve. Not against something. For something. For each other.

And that’s why you’re here.

Because you believe, like I do, that Canada is only truly strong when it works for everyone.

That’s our objective, that’s our heritage.

After all, Canada is a nation forged through accommodation not assimilation, through partnership not domination.

Canada’s founding insight is that unity does not require uniformity.

This is neither myth nor miracle, but a series of choices, made imperfectly, across generations.

Pragmatic decisions that have become a moral conviction — that our differences are a strength to be nurtured, not a risk to be managed.

And so, each generation has chosen to widen the circle.

We Liberals stand in that tradition.

Wilfrid Laurier—who governed a country that had once conquered his people—built a federation strong enough to hold both.

Louis St. Laurent—who built a connected and confident Canada through massive infrastructure projects and our country’s first independent foreign policy.

Lester Pearson—who demonstrated that true security is social through public pensions, and public health care.

Pierre Trudeau who enshrined the architecture of a just society.

Jean Chrétien who kept Canada united, sovereign and free.

Paul Martin who combined social innovation, sustainable health care and sound fiscal management.

And Justin Trudeau who widened the scope of our inclusive society by lifting almost one million children out of poverty, by walking the path of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, and by building a true compact with future generations.

We stand in that tradition, with the same conviction that the greatest country on earth can become even greater still.

My dear friends, economic strength is the foundation of our mission.

We can’t share what we don’t have.

We can’t be strong abroad if we’re weak at home.

We can’t build a better future if we can’t manage in the present.

A strong economy creates high-paying jobs.

It produces the means to take care of each other.

It makes us more independent.

We are building a strong economy to provide quality health care for Canadians.

To provide a pension plan that our seniors can count on.

To provide childcare that helps young families make ends meet.

To deliver dental care, pharmacare, and the National School Food Program.

To ensure the vitality and diversity of our cultural sector.

As Liberals, we are passionate about building a strong economy as the means to a Just Society.

A just society anchored in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Where women always have the right to choose.

Where you can believe what you want to believe.

Where you can love who you want to love.

Where everyone can be their entire selves and all have a chance to thrive.

A Just society where we take care of the vulnerable.

Where we pull together to make life more affordable today and better tomorrow.

We know Canadians are under pressure from everyday expenses.

That’s why we are making government more productive through tough, responsible choices that will save taxpayers $60 billion. That’s why we cut taxes for 22 million middle-class Canadians and launched the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit to support 12 million Canadians who need it the most.

That’s why we are boosting competition for your hard-earned dollar in telecom, banking and grocery stores, so that Canadians get lower prices, better products, and more choices.

We are building Canada Strong, the right way.

We are building Canada Strong in solidarity with workers, by creating good union jobs.

We are building inclusively, in full partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.

We are building sustainably, because reducing emissions is not just a moral duty, it’s an economic imperative.

We are building sustainably, by preserving Canada’s immense natural heritage through our historic commitments to protect our lakes, forests, oceans, and wildlife.

We are building sustainably, by ensuring that the largest nation-building projects benefit all Canadians, our children, and their children.

When we build physically, we are building inclusively, sustainably and in solidarity.

These same values must hold as we build virtually, because AI, the defining technology of our era, is arriving.

The question is not whether AI will transform our lives. It will. The question is whether it will improve the lives of all Canadians or benefit only some.

Our goal is AI for All. AI governed by Canadian values, accountable to Canadians, and serving Canadians.

AI for All will make the jobs of Canadian workers more interesting and rewarding.

Done right, AI in health care means shorter wait times. AI in education means every child is met where they are. AI in government means a government that works for you.

My dear friends, this great country has been built by ordinary Canadians making bold choices and doing extraordinary things.

Like the people in this room, who show up.

Like the people watching, who never give up.

People who believe in the promise of Canada.

A year ago, Canadians were asked a fundamental question: who’s ready? Who’s ready to stand up for Canada?

You certainly are.

You were and you are.

All Canadians are.

Buying Canadian. Discovering Canada.

Standing by each other through a crisis they didn’t create…

…in ways that nobody requires, but everybody feels.

Friends, we’re re-committing today to a simple mission in that same spirit.

To build a Canada that is not just strong, but good.

A Canada that is not just prosperous, but fair.

A Canada that is not just for some, most of the time; but for all, all the time.

Canada is more than a nation. We are a set of sacred ideals built on practical foundations.

We know we’re not perfect, but we always strive to be good.

We do things because they’re right, not because they’re easy.

We see kindness as a virtue, not as a weakness.

On September 11th, 2001, the people of Gander welcomed thousands of stranded passengers into their homes, without question, without hesitation, and without asking anything in return.

Last year I went there and sat down with two of the heroes of that moment: Diane Davis and Beulah Cooper.

They showed me a thank you card from a young girl named Ellie, who had written:

“Your kindness motivates me to use my kindness.”

Ellie’s phrase captures what Canadians instinctively know:

That virtue is like a muscle. It grows with exercise.

When we are kind, kindness grows.

When we seek unity, unity grows.

When we are Canadian, Canada grows.

And when we are All for Canada, we build a Canada Strong for All.

Merci et vive le Canada!

Liberals are delivering a tax break for all Canadians this holiday season. Starting December 14th, our Liberal team is eliminating the GST/HST on everyday essentials like:

• Groceries
• Kids clothing and shoes
• Diapers
• Car seats
• Toys
• Video games and consoles
• Puzzles
• Books and audiobooks
• Restaurant dining and take-out
• Beer, wine, and cider

New Digital Ad:

This holiday season, we’re delivering a tax break for all Canadians. pic.twitter.com/5xpaq9x5t8

— Liberal Party (@liberal_party) November 25, 2024

Pierre Poilievre and his Conservatives voted against our plan – but we’re focused on making life more affordable for Canadians.

Every single one of Pierre Poilievre’s MPs voted against a tax break for Canadians.

Why won’t they axe this tax? pic.twitter.com/d9Ur1E8j7r

— Liberal Party (@liberal_party) November 29, 2024

Support our plan to make life more affordable for all Canadians.

Chip in now

Our Liberal housing plan is helping build over 750,000 homes in nearly 200 communities across Canada.

Pierre Poilievre has been clear: he wants to cut our housing investments, even while his own MPs agree that our housing plan is building more homes, faster, all across Canada.

Conservative MPs have a choice to make. Will they stand up for their communities, or support Poilievre’s cuts?

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Add your name to stop Conservative cuts and build more homes for Canadians.

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Since 2015, our Liberal team has been focused on delivering real progress for Canadians.

We’ve been focused on making life more affordable with $10-a-day child care, the Canadian Dental Care Plan, National Universal Pharmacare, the National School Food Program, the Canada Child Benefit, and so much more.

And we’re not slowing down.

While Pierre Poilievre is focused on cuts to the services Canadians rely on, our Liberal team is delivering real support to make life more affordable and build an economy that works for everyone.

So far in 2024, Justin Trudeau and our Liberal team have been focused on delivering fairness for every generation.

Together, we:

• Introduced a National Universal Pharmacare program, to give Canadians free access to prescription contraceptives and life-saving diabetes medication.
• Continued fighting climate change while putting even more money in the pockets of Canadians through the Canada Carbon Rebate.
• Created even more $10-a-day child care and introduced a new National School Food Program to help 400,000 more children every year get healthy food at school
• Rolled out the Canadian Dental Care Plan, giving over 200,000 seniors access to care in less than two months, on the way to help more than 9 million Canadians get the dental care they need.
• Invested to build nearly 4 million more homes to make the housing market more affordable, deliver fairness for renters, and support first-time homebuyers.
• Banned the use of replacement workers in federally regulated workplaces.
• Passed the Canada-Ukraine Free-Trade Agreement.

Spring recap: There’s only one team delivering for Canadians. pic.twitter.com/yEuHg3Kcln

— Liberal Party (@liberal_party) June 22, 2024

While we’re taking action, Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives are trying to stop our progress and cut investments in the middle class. He’d rather cut services for Canadians so he can cut taxes for the wealthy.

We won’t let him.

Chip in now to support our progress

.@cafreeland: We're building a fairer Canada for every generation. pic.twitter.com/eeTiNI9DZB

— Liberal Party (@liberal_party) April 16, 2024

Chrystia Freeland and our Liberal team recently presented Budget 2024, the next steps in our plan to build more homes, reduce the cost of living, and grow an economy that works for all Canadians.

Budget 2024 is all about delivering Fairness for Every Generation.

It is a plan that asks the ultra-wealthy to pay a bit more, so we can help younger generations have a fair shot at success, make it easier and more affordable for Canadians to rent or own a home, and grow the middle class.

Here’s our plan:

Solving the housing crisis

• Unlocking 3.87 million new homes.
• Creating a new Canadian Renters’ Bill of Rights so that renters can bargain fairly.
• Establishing the Tenant Protection Fund to better protect tenants against unfair rising rent payments, renovictions, or bad landlords.
• Making sure renters get credit for on-time rent payments to help them qualify for their first mortgage.
• Launching Canada Builds: a partnership with provinces and territories to build more rental housing across the country.
• Making it easier for builders to build apartments across Canada through the Apartment Construction Loan Program and removing the GST from new rental housing.
• Streamlining foreign credential recognition in the construction sector to help skilled trades workers build more homes.
• Incentivizing Canada’s educational institutions to build more student housing.

Lowering the cost of living

• Stabilizing the costs of groceries by strengthening competition in the grocery sector.
• Building more $10-a-day child care spaces.
• Launching a new National School Food Program to support 400,000 more kids every year.
• Cracking down on junk fees to make prices fairer and help middle-class Canadians keep more of their money in their pockets.
• Enhancing free and affordable banking options and capping certain fees at $10.
• Building on progress to strengthen the right to repair, so Canadians can repair their broken appliances and devices—and at a fair price.

Growing an Economy That Works for all Canadians

• Making the ultra-wealthy pay a little bit more so we can invest in affordable housing, deliver better public health care, and grow the middle class.
• Securing Canada’s AI advantage to help Canadian researchers, start-ups, and businesses access remain competitive.
• Launching the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program to unlock access to capital for Indigenous communities.
• Boosting supports for Canadian businesses to purchase the equipment they need to boost productivity and compete in the economy of tomorrow.
• Providing further tax relief to secure the future of Canadian small businesses and create good jobs for generations to come.
• Helping increase access to mental health services for young Canadians through the new Youth Mental Health Fund.
• Delivering the Canada Disability Benefit to increase the financial well-being of over 600,000 persons with disabilities.

While we’re taking action, Pierre Poilievre is trying to stop our progress and cut investments to the middle class. He wants to cut support for families and seniors, stop building more homes for Canadians, and take Canada backward.

But we won’t let him. We’re going to deliver fairness for every generation.

Chip in now to support our progress

Next week, our Liberal government will table Budget 2024, the next steps in our work to keep Canada moving forward.

Over the last few days, we’ve announced crucial investments to deliver for Canadians, including:

• Launching a National School Food Program to provide nutritious meals in school to 400,000 more kids every year
• Creating more $10-a-day child care spaces as we train and attract more educators – especially in rural and remote communities
• Establishing the Tenant Protection Fund to better protect tenants against unfair rising rent payments, renovictions, or bad landlords
• Creating the Canadian Renters’ Bill of Rights to ensure transparency and fairness in pricing, create nationwide standards for leases, and give renters more agency
• Ensuring that rental payment history is part of mortgage qualification
• Protecting affordable housing units, preserving rent prices, and creating thousands of new affordable apartments

With that and so much more, our Liberal team is putting forward an ambitious plan to make sure every generation has a real and fair chance at success.

Pierre Poilievre and his Conservatives have made it clear they’d cut services for Canadians, and our investments in affordable housing and the middle class.

We can’t let that happen. Now’s the time to work together and protect our progress for Canadians.

Chip in now to ensure that Justin Trudeau and our Liberal team can continue our work to keep Canada moving forward.

Chip in now

This week Justin Trudeau and our Liberal government announced our new National School Food Program to help even more kids get the best start in life.

Since 2015, we’ve helped lift 650,000 kids out of poverty, and cut child poverty in half with crucial investments in the Canada Child Benefit, $10-a-day child care, and more.

We know there’s still more to do, and our new National School Food Program will help provide nutritional meals in school to 400,000 more kids every year.

Here’s what they’re saying about the National School Food Program:

The Club eagerly welcomes the historic announcement from @CanadianPM to create a #NationalSchoolFoodProgram.

We are ready to act now with stakeholders to reach present and future generations.https://t.co/HzJggO8bey pic.twitter.com/HNFC39aQo0

— Breakfast Club of Canada (@BreakfastCanada) April 1, 2024

We welcome the federal government’s investment in a national #schoolfood program. As stated in @UNICEFCanada’s Report Card 18, children have the highest rate of food insecurity among all age groups in Canada—24 percent in 2022, which translates to almost 1.8 million children

— UNICEF Canada (@UNICEFCanada) April 1, 2024

Thrilled to hear @CanadianPM and @cafreeland announce funding for Universal School Food Program! Thanks to our partners @C4HSchoolFood & @BreakfastCanada for their dedication to this cause. Together, we’re making sure no child goes hungry at school! #Budget2024 pic.twitter.com/bqHAVCKkbv

— CTF/FCE (@CTFFCE) April 1, 2024

Today the Government of Canada announces $1 billion over 5 years for a #NationalSchoolFoodProgram. ONFE is proud to be a part of this transformative journey, committed to fostering environments where hunger does not hinder potential. https://t.co/EF4GbOOHmF

— Ottawa Network for Education (@ONFE_ROPE) April 1, 2024

While we’re taking action, Pierre Poilievre and his Conservatives have already made clear where they stand on ensuring that every kid has the healthy food they need in school.

Our Liberal team will keep working to make sure every kid can learn, grow, and reach their full potential.

Chip in to support our progress

And they’re changing politics!

Karina Gould became the first Canadian minister to give birth while in office and is the first minister to take maternity leave.

Last year, Hedy Fry became the longest-serving woman MP in Canadian history, 30 years after first being elected in 1993.

Rechie Valdez is the first Filipina-Canadian woman to be elected to Parliament and is the first Filipina-Canadian cabinet minister.

Former Liberal Party president Anna Gainey became the newest woman to join our team as an MP, and we can’t wait to see what she does next!

More women in politics means better representation. And better representation leads to policies that deliver real progress for Canadians.

Progress like

But we still have more work ahead.

Research suggests that a woman is 50% less likely than a man to consider running for office, even though 50% of women have valuable community leadership and organizational experience. And we need to do more to create a space where women feel safe, empowered, and encouraged to run for office.

We all know a woman in our community who would make a fantastic leader, and one of the best ways to celebrate International Women’s Day is to Invite Her to Run for office.
Encouraging more women to get involved in politics is how we’ll keep Canada moving forward.

Learn more about how you can play a part in supporting women’s participation in politics:

Learn more