The federal government is promising to create one million jobs through a new campaign.
Governor General Julie Payette delivered the throne speech on Wednesday where it outlined the federal government’s plans to help the country through the COVID-19 pandemic.
It included details of a new plan to help increase employment which focuses on investments in the social sector and infrastructure, immediate training to quickly skill up workers and incentives for employers to hire and retain workers.
They’re also extending the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy to next summer to help businesses keep their workers.
The program offers help to businesses who’ve lost 15 per cent of revenue from the pandemic by covering 75 per cent of wages on the first $58,700 an employee makes.
“Now, more than ever, Canadians must work together – including by eliminating remaining barriers between provinces to full, free internal trade – to get the economy back up and running and Canadians back to work,” said Payette.
Kenney Disappointed Over Lack of Industry Support
The throne speech is leaving Premier Jason Kenney disappointed over the lack of support for the energy sector.
While the federal government is promising to create one million jobs, no supports were mentioned for the sector – the country’s biggest industry.
“In a 6783 word Throne Speech, not one word recognized the crisis facing Canada’s largest industry – the energy sector that supports 800,000 jobs, directly and indirectly,” said Kenney.
“Instead, we got a litany of policies that would strangle investment and jeopardize resource jobs when we most need the industry that generates 20 per cent of government revenues in Canada.”
According to Statistics Canada, employment in the sector fell by more than seven per cent in the second quarter – the biggest decline ever recorded.
Kenney states supporting industry will also support the country’s economy as global oil demand is expected to grow over the next 20 years.
“For a real recovery, Canada needs Alberta’s energy. Albertans have made a net contribution of more than $600 billion through transfers to the rest of Canada to build roads, schools, hospitals, and the critical infrastructure Canadians need, in large part due to Alberta’s energy industry.”
