2021 Federal Election Summary

As Canada’s 44th general election comes to a close, here are your results on who will form the next federal government. 

Result – LIBERAL MINORITY‍

In Canada’s 44th general election, we experienced the first pandemic federal election which showed several peaks and valleys for both the Conservatives and Liberals.

With initial voter fatigue and anger over the actual election call, Conservatives jumped out to a significant lead in the polls across the country. As the election entered into its final week, vaccine passports and the Alberta government’s reversal of COVID-19 positions dominated both the media headlines and Liberal attacks.

This drove home a comparison of the Trudeau Liberals’ handling of the pandemic versus the provincial governments’ handling of the pandemic across the country. This led to a major surge for the Liberals in Ontario, resulting in a minority parliament. 

Highlights of Top Liberal Priorities

COVID-19 Response

• Imposing mandatory vaccines for federal public servants and commercial passengers on planes, trains, and marine vessels
• Supporting proof-of-vaccination credentials in provinces and territories
• Supporting mental health programs for populations at highest risk of COVID-19 trauma
• Providing up to $375 million to the international COVID-19 response
• Helping create safer indoor spaces with better ventilation by topping up the Safe Return to Class Fund
• Providing free COVID-19 booster shots and next-generation vaccines
  

Health Care and Long-Term Care

• Helping hire at least 7,500 nurses, nurse practitioners and family doctors
• Providing $3 billion  to improve long-term care homes
• Helping train up to 50,000 new personal support workers in long-term care and raising wages to a minimum of $25/hr
• Providing an additional $6 billion to help with health care system backlogs and waitlists
• Helping expand virtual health services with $400 million
• Allocating $4.5 billion for the delivery of mental health services
• Addressing the opioid crisis and making access to treatment easier
  

Economy

• Building a $10-a-day daycare system 
• Providing 10 days of paid sick leave for federal workers
• Expanding the Employment Insurance benefit to the self-employed for up to 26 weeks
• Expanding the Employment Insurance sickness benefit to 26 weeks
• Providing $100 million to the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative
• Establish a $15/hr federal minimum wage which will rise with inflation
• Providing Canada’s hardest-hit tourism industry with temporary wage and rent support of up to 75% of their expenses
• Allowing Canadian-controlled private firms to expense up to $1.5 million of eligible investments in each of the next three years
• Expanding the Canada Small Business Financing Program through increasing loan maximums to $500,000 and 15 years and expanding eligibility to non-profit organizations for $560 million/year
• Creating a minimum tax rule for those who earn enough to qualify for the top bracket to pay a minimum of 15%/year
  

Housing

• Introducing First Home Savings Accounts for Canadians under 40 to save up to $40,000 toward their first house with deposits and withdrawals being tax-free
• Providing $1 billion in grants and loans to develop rent-to-own projects
• Doubling the Home Buyers Tax Credit claim amount to $10,000
  

Environment

• Reducing emissions by 40-45% by the year 2030
• Achieving a 100% net-zero emitting electricity system by the year 2035
• Implementing a Low-Carbon Fuel Procurement Program for the government
• Building a net-zero electricity grid by the year 2035
• Requiring all plastic packaging to contain 50% recycled material by the year 2030
• Creating 10 new national parks and 10 marine conservative areas in the next five years
  

Indigenous Affairs

• Continuing commitment of $6 billion to ensure access to clean water for First Nations
• Building housing for Indigenous communities with $2 billion over four years
• Supporting access to Indigenous mental health and wellness services
• Increasing the hiring of health professionals in isolated Indigenous communities
• Confronting the legacy of residential schools
  

Immigration

• Resettling 20,000 Afghans threatened by the Taliban
• Providing Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship with the authority to help select permanent resident candidates who best meet the needs of the labour market
  

Education 

• Increasing repayment assistance for student loans to $40,000/year and reducing monthly payments to 10% of household income
• Waving federal interest on Canada Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loans
• Extending the Canada Student Grants to $6,000 for full-time students until 2023
• Helping keep vulnerable children and youth in school through after-school programs and other supports