In honour of the 200th Independence Day of Greece, I submitted Bill C-276, which will designate the month of March as Hellenic Heritage Month. Over 270,000 Canadians are of Greek descent and Greeks in Canada have contributed tremendously to the social, political, and economic fabric of our country.
Last week, Bill C-14, which will implement certain aspects of our Fall Economic Statement, has passed through the Finance Committee and is on its way to becoming law. We are one step closer to ensuring that families and businesses receive the support they need!
The government has recently introduced Bill C-25, which will provide an additional $7.2 billion to Canadians. This will be used to fund vaccine roll-outs, and local infrastructure projects in our cities and communities.
To see all the work in the House, please visit the House of Commons website.
In order to promote outdoor activities in public spaces (streets, parks, sports fields and other areas) as soon as possible, the City of Laval has begun its spring clean-up operations. It is therefore calling on the cooperation of all citizens and reminding them that it is important to respect seasonal signage (alternative parking) in order to maximize the efficiency of the clean-up operations.
Laval remains a red zone, and the situation continues to be critical. While restrictions are being eased, and over a million Quebecers have been vaccinated, I urge everyone to continue to be vigilant. A third wave of the newer, more contagious and deadlier coronavirus is inevitable. This new variant of the virus has shown to be particularly harmful to younger people who have not been able to get vaccinated yet. We must do everything we can to limit the spread as much as possible.
So far, the government has distributed 6.2 million doses of vaccines to the provinces and territories, 1.38 million of which to Quebec. 5.2 million have been administered nationally, and Quebec has administered 1.26 million doses. For more information on the status of the vaccination campaign in Canada, please click here.
Today, I, along with the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, announced that the federal government will be investing nearly $66.3 million in the form of low-interest loans to help construct 193 residential units in Laval. 106 of the 193 units in this building will be have annual rent rates well below 30% of the median household income in the area.
By supporting this project, we are providing housing options that are closer to jobs, services and amenities for Laval families. Our government believes that every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home and through the National Housing Strategy, investments like the one we announced today bring us closer to achieving this goal.
On April 22, 2021, the City of Laval will hold a virtual Summit on Ethnocultural Diversity and Inclusion. This unique event is intended for anyone interested in immigration, intercultural relations and inclusion issues in Laval.
For more details and to register, please click here (available in French only).
