Trudeau says Canada needs to 'build back better' in new year

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released his self-congratulatory New Year's statement on Thursday, patting his party on the back for "having people's backs every step of the way."

"We created measures like the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, the Canada Emergency Business Account, and the new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy to help hundreds of thousands of businesses, charities, and non-profits pay their bills and keep their workers on the payroll," wrote the prime minister.

The prime minister also reminded Canadians that the pandemic was an opportunity to "build back better," an ambiguous phrase that has been tossed around by the likes of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and US President-elect Joe Biden.

"The challenges we have faced this year have shown how important it is to build back better. As we recover from this crisis, we must take every opportunity to make our country stronger, more sustainable, and more just for everyone," wrote Trudeau. "... It means taking further climate action, and investing in clean energy and technologies. And it means taking action to ensure all Canadians are safe, involved, and supported in their communities."

The phrase was also used by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland in her November fiscal update—wherein an additional $400 billion was added to the national credit card, for the sake of progress.

"As we build back, we have it within our reach to build back better, tackling challenges that hold us all back, homelessness systemic racism, and the unfinished and essential work of reconciliation," said Freeland in November.

Trudeau congratulated the Liberals for introducing their "strengthened climate plan," which will be used to "our international climate commitments, reduce pollution, create jobs and new opportunities for businesses, and build a healthier, cleaner, more resilient future for all Canadians."

Trudeau also congratulates his party for launching the "Black Entrepreneurship Program to support Black entrepreneurs and business owners in partnership with Canadian financial institutions, and introduced legislation to allow for the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In addition, we took action to protect our communities from gun violence by banning over 1,500 models and variants of assault-style firearms and some of their components."

The prime minister's full statement can be read here.