Message From Tony
The Nature Accountability Bill
Last week our government introduced Bill C-73, The Nature Accountability Act – An Act respecting transparency and accountability in relation to certain commitments Canada has made under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The effective stewardship of our natural environment requires all levels of government and all Canadians to take action. The bill, if passed into law, would create a transparency and accountability framework—with meaningful checkpoints—for the federal government to play its role in advancing implementation of the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework and related Convention on Biological Diversity commitments at the federal level.
The bill would provide concrete steps to 2050 to advance implementation of those commitments, including requirements to develop national biodiversity strategies and action plans—like the 2030 Nature Strategy—and to report on their implementation. Reporting requirements would allow for an assessment of implementation progress and, where necessary, provide information on course corrections to stay on track with commitments.
The bill would also require that the Minister of Environment and Climate Change consider certain things when establishing national strategies and preparing national reports. For example, the Minister would be required to consider Indigenous Knowledge as well as the rights affirmed in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The bill would also provide a legislated mechanism so that national strategies and reports were informed by independent experts.
Beyond imposing specific accountability and transparency requirements on the federal government, the bill is an important step forward to support collaboration between the Government of Canada and other Canadian governments as well as Indigenous partners in actions to address biodiversity loss. The bill would not impose requirements or obligations on other governments or Indigenous partners or have an effect on their jurisdiction.
Together, the bill and the 2030 Strategy will provide a coordinated approach to efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.
National Indigenous People’s Day
For generations, many Indigenous groups and communities have celebrated their culture and heritage on June 21 or around that time of year because of the significance of the summer solstice as the longest day of the year. June 21st now marks National Indigenous People’s Day, a day for us all to recognize and highlight the unique heritage, cultures, and Indigenous ways of living and being. National Indigenous Peoples Day was first proclaimed by the Government of Canada in 1996 as “National Aboriginal Day” after consultations with various Indigenous groups. In 2017, the Prime Minister announced that June 21st would be renamed to National Indigenous Peoples Day.
Celebrating Pride in York Region
I had a fantastic time this past weekend at York Pride in Newmarket! Team Van Bynen was joined by several colleagues as we marched in the parade to commemorate Pride Season and celebrate members of the 2SLGBTQI+community in Newmarket-Aurora, York Region, and across Canada. There was a great turnout during the parade and I was proud to see so many familiar faces.
York Pride is a great community organization that aims to inspire positive change through human connections and highlight the importance of creative inclusive spaces within and beyond York Region. I applaud them for the hard work they put into the Pride Parade every year, and am looking forward to their future events.
As we continue to celebrate Pride Season, I encourage everyone to learn more about the Pride movement and the contributions of members of the2SLGBTQI+ community. We must also reaffirm our commitment to continue standing up against homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, and other forms of discrimination.
Happy Pride Season!
Launch of the Co-operative Housing Development Program
For decades, co-ops have provided Canadians with secure, affordable, and community-oriented homes. Our government is taking action to support a new generation of co-op housing in Canada to help make housing more affordable.
We’re doing this by launching a new $1.5 billion Co-operative Housing Development Program, which will provide loans and contributions to build and grow co-ops across Canada. This program is the largest investment to build new co-op housing in the last 30 years and will help build thousands of new homes by 2028.
Co-op housing providers will be able to apply for funding starting on July 15, 2024,and the first intake round will remain open until September 15, 2025.Additional intake opportunities will be announced at a later date. To learn more, visit this website.
Through investments like this, we are addressing housing pressures across the country, so that future generations have the same opportunity to rent or own a place of their own as did previous generations.
National Indigenous Peoples Day and National Indigenous History Monthy
This Friday, June 21st, we celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day and the rich histories, traditions, and cultures of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis from coast to coast to coast. This day is celebrated on the summer solstice, which holds a special significance for Indigenous Peoples who have gathered on this day for centuries to welcome the arrival of warm weather with ceremonies, traditional practices, and displays of art.
We join Indigenous Peoples in celebrating their achievements and resilience and continue working to heal the lasting wounds of the past to move forward together. The Government of Canada will continue to support First Nations, Inuit, and Métis in revitalizing their traditions and languages.
The month of June also marks National Indigenous History Month, which is an opportunity to learn about the unique cultures, traditions, and experiences of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. It is a time to honour the stories, achievements, and resilience of Indigenous Peoples who have lived on this land since time immemorial.
Happy National Indigenous History Month!
Dental care available for even more Canadians
Oral health is an important part of our overall health and well-being. That’s why – since December 2023 – our government has been gradually rolling out the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) for eligible seniors. Since last month, eligible Canadians with a May start date have been able to access dental care through the CDCP.
All eligible seniors aged 65 and up are able to apply online. Starting June 27th, eligible individuals with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate, as well as youth under 18, can also apply for the CDCP through the online portal.
To qualify for the CDCP, you must:
- Not have access to dental insurance;
- Have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000;
- Be a Canadian resident for tax purposes; and
- Have filed your tax return in the previous year.
When booking an appointment before July 8, 2024, CDCP patients should ask their oral health provider if they are signed up to participate in the CDCP. If you do not already have an oral health provider, you can consult Sun Life’s CDCP Provider Search to find a dentist, dental hygienist, denturist, or dental specialist in your community. Starting July 8, CDCP patients will be able to see any oral health provider of their choice, as long as the provider agrees to direct bill SunLife for services provided under the plan. Providers will be able to direct bill Sun Life for services provided on a claim-by-claim basis, without formally signing up for the CDCP.
The CDCP is going to help make dental care more affordable for up to nine million Canadians who currently do not have coverage. Participating providers continue to support our collective efforts to ensure that as many Canadians as possible receive the oral healthcare services they need to stay healthy.
