Hello everyone,
I hope this newsletter finds you well, physically and mentally. I understand that many of you are facing major personal or financial struggles. It’s very tough not being able to hug the people you love at a time when you need it the most. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from loved ones, regional organizations and even myself, your MP, if it involves navigating federal assistance programs.
This month, I wanted to share with you our government’s commitment to the environment. COVID-19 will soon be behind us, but the threat of climate change is still very much present. Essential workers have been working twice as hard for a year now, but once the crisis is over, we will need to put everyone else back to work. With the need to massively invest in restarting our economy, the Trudeau government is committed to taking this opportunity to make a real shift toward a green economy.
Whether in terms of research and innovation, support for businesses, infrastructure construction and much more, our investments will be measured against their environmental value. Will it help reduce greenhouse gases or increase carbon sequestration? Will it create the jobs of the future?
Since 2015, we have been taking a series of actions to reduce our emissions, but we need to do a lot more if we are to meet our Paris targets and become a carbon-neutral country by 2050. Te fall budget update and the frst phase of our Green Plan that was released before the holidays demonstrate the scope of our commitment. Te purpose of this newsletter is to share our vision and present the various areas that we will be focusing on, areas that over the coming months and years will lead to much more concrete initiatives.
Although I am writing this in February, you will probably receive this newsletter just before the tabling of the 2021 Federal Budget. No doubt it will be written in green ink. In closing, I just want to say that luckily, we have maple syrup season to soften the blow of tax time! Please remember that it is very important for everyone to fle a tax return. Yes, we all need to contribute to the public purse, based on our income. It is thanks to these contributions that everyone has access to free health care, among other things. Filing your tax return is also the best way to receive the various benefts you are entitled to, including the Child Tax Beneft, the Canada Workers Beneft (low-income earners), Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement for seniors. Once again, if you require assistance, my team and I are here to help.
Take care everyone!!
The Hon. Marie-Claude Bibeau
Compton-Stanstead M.P.
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
