Key Actions Since 2015 to Build a More Equal Canada for Everyone

  • Raised income taxes on the wealthiest 1%, so that we could cut them for nine million middle class Canadians.
  • Helped lift 435,000 children out of poverty through the Canada Child Benefit.
  • Reduced the number of seniors living in poverty in Canada by 20%.
  • Formed Canada’s first gender-balanced cabinet and appointed women to high profile leadership positions within government.
  • Passed the Pay Equity Act, which went into effect on August 31, 2021 and will ensure women and men in federally regulated workplaces get equal pay for equal work.
  • Expanded the Canada Workers Benefit to one million more low-income workers which will help lift nearly 100,000 people out of poverty.
  • Reinstated the Court Challenges Program, which provides financial support to Canadians in important court cases that advance equality and language rights.
  • Introduced the EI Parental Sharing Benefit to support equality in parenting by providing up to five additional weeks of benefits when both parents agree to share parental leave.
  • Invested close to $5 billion to strengthen capacity within the entrepreneurship ecosystem and close gaps in service for women entrepreneurs.
  • Set a target for gender equality in sport at every level by 2035 and provided an initial $30 million over three years to support new practices to promote women and girls’ participation in sport.
  • Created the Task Force on Women in the Economy to address issues of equality in the wake of the pandemic.
  • Introduced legislation to protect the dignity and equality of LGBTQ2 people by criminalizing conversion therapy.
  • Created the first-of-its kind Black Entrepreneurship Program that will provide loans of up to $250,000 to Black business owners and entrepreneurs across the country.
  • Provided support to Black-led non-profits so they can better serve their communities and offer mental health and wellness support, sports and fitness programs, and arts and culture programming.
  • Provided support for community-led projects for Black Canadian youth that develop leadership skills and civic engagement, provide opportunities, and promote Black history, culture, and identity.
  • Established the Accessible Canada Act to create a barrier-free Canada for people with disabilities.
  • Helped to improve workplace accessibility and access to jobs.
  • Moved forward on a Disability Inclusion Action Plan.
  • Made important changes to the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) to improve financial security.
  • Created the COVID-19 Disability Advisory Group to advise the federal government, in recognition that Canadians with disabilities have been disproportionately affected by the health, social, and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • In 2017, Justin Trudeau delivered a formal apology in the House of Commons to people harmed by federal legislation, policies, and practices that led to the oppression of, and discrimination against LGBTQ2 people in Canada.
  • Established an LGBTQ2 Secretariat within the Privy Council Office to support government initiatives on LGBTQ2 issues.
  • Helped support a strong LGBTQ2 movement in Canada through the creations of the new LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Projects Fund which has provided $15 million in grants to over 75 organizations.
  • Declared trans rights as human rights and passed legislation to fully protect gender identity and expression.
  • Initiated the process for Canada’s first LGBTQ2 Action Plan, to make Canada a more equal place and improve the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and two-spirit people in Canada.