Parliamentary Secretary McKelvie highlights Budget 2026 investments to make life more affordable for Canadians

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Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

09 nov, 2026, 10:00 ET

AJAX, ON, Nov. 9, 2026 /CNW/ -- In a world reshaped by geopolitical competition, protectionism, and rapidly evolving technologies, Canada stands apart. Our abundant natural resources, clean and reliable energy, world-class talent, strong public finances, and access to global markets give us a clear competitive advantage.

We have the strength to build and the discipline to deliver.

These foundations are already translating into results: investment is growing, major projects are being built, and businesses are reaching new markets at home and abroad. Budget 2026 keeps Canada on a path to meet both fiscal anchors: balancing day-to-day operating spending with revenues by 2027-28, a full year ahead of schedule, and keeping the deficit-to-GDP ratio on a declining path.

Today, Jennifer McKelvie, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, met with local residents and stakeholders in Ajax to highlight key affordability measures in Budget 2026: Masters of our Destiny.

Budget 2026 includes more than $22 billion over five years in new measures to help Canadians manage the cost of living, keep more money in their pockets, and build a stronger future. These measures will help workers get ahead, support families with the cost of everyday essentials, lower household energy costs, and ensure economic growth creates opportunities for Canadians across the country.

Budget 2026 delivers for Canadians by:

  • Enhancing the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit with a 2027 Supplement and expanding Nutrition North Canada to help lower the cost of food for Canadians.
  • Lifting an estimated 240,000 people out of poverty through the new Build Canada Workers Benefit, keeping more money in workers' pockets and ensuring hard work pays.
  • Helping nearly 22 million Canadians keep more of what they earn through the middle-class tax cut, saving a two-income family up to $840 this year.
  • Reducing household costs by supporting up to one million energy-efficient home retrofits, including through the new National Heat Pump Rebate, helping Canadians lower their monthly energy bills.
  • Temporarily suspending the federal fuel excise tax, reducing costs at the pump by up to 10 cents per litre for gasoline and up to 4 cents per litre for diesel.

Quotes

"Being masters of our destiny is about having the confidence to build on our strengths and shape our own future. Canada has the resources, talent, and ambition to succeed. Budget 2026 builds on those strengths by unlocking investment, building more at home, strengthening our energy and natural resource advantage, and helping Canadian businesses grow and compete on the world stage. That's how we will create good jobs, make life more affordable, and build a stronger, more resilient, and more united Canada for generations to come."

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue 

"Affordability starts with the basics: a home you can afford, lower monthly bills, and confidence in your family's future. Budget 2026 makes important investments to reduce costs for Canadians, from supporting energy-efficient home retrofits to helping build stronger communities and creating more pathways to affordable housing. These measures will help Canadians today while laying the foundation for long-term prosperity."

Jennifer McKelvie, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Member of Parliament for Ajax

Quick facts

Despite a challenging global environment, the Canadian economy has shown resilience: 

  • Canada's economy grew by 3.3% in the second quarter, the fastest pace in the G7. 
  • The IMF expects Canada to be the second-fastest growing economy in the G7 in 2027. 
  • Canada is expected to maintain one of the lowest deficit-to-GDP ratios in the G7, signalling fiscal strength and the capacity to invest in the future.
  • More Canadians are benefiting from labour market strength. Over the past year, Canada's economy has added 214,000 jobs in private employment, while the unemployment rate has fallen to 6.5%, near its lowest level in two years. 
  • Since the end of 2024, Canada has also created nearly twice as many jobs per capita as the United States.
  • Rising productivity is helping lay the foundation for stronger wage growth and higher living standards, with productivity increasing by 1.2% over the last year, compared with average growth of just 0.1% following the pandemic.
  • Foreign direct investment in Canada is at its highest level in nearly two decades. Canada attracted $98 billion in foreign investment in 2025 and has led the G7 in direct investment inflows per capita since early 2025.  
  • Canada has the lowest tax burden on new investment in the G7, encouraging businesses to invest, innovate, and grow in Canada. 
  • Nominal goods and services exports to countries other than the United States increased by $33 billion in 2025 and are on pace to rise by a further $57 billion in 2026, as more Canadian businesses reach new markets.
  • Canada is the only G7 country with free trade agreements with every other G7 member. Through 15 agreements in force covering 51 countries, Canadian businesses already have preferential access to 1.5 billion consumers and economies representing two thirds of global GDP.  
  • Measures to make life more affordable are working. The share of household income needed to cover housing costs has fallen by roughly a quarter, asking rents have dropped for two consecutive years, and the average cost of child care has fallen around 30% nationwide since 2019. 

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Contacts: For more information (media only), please contact: Jenna Ghassabeh , Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, [email protected]; Media Relations: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected]

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