OTTAWA — A loud round of applause from union members greeted Patty Hajdu on Monday when she released details of a federal government plan to help healthcare workers.
The minister of jobs and families and MP for Thunder Bay-Superior North announced the upcoming budget will include a new refundable tax credit that will benefit about 200,000 workers.
Eligible PSWs will be able to claim a tax credit equal to five per cent of their earnings to a maximum of $1,100.
The credit will be available in provinces and territories that are not covered by an existing bilateral agreement with the federal government to increase wages for PSWs.
SEIU Healthcare, the union representing 68,000 healthcare workers across Ontario, described the announcement as a victory for employees in the sector, saying it first called for the tax credit in November 2024.
"We did so because personal support workers and care workers like them deserve to live with dignity and economic security," said union president Tyler Downey. "Putting more money directly into the pockets of PSWs will support retention and help strengthen care for Canada's seniors."
At a news conference in Ottawa, Hajdu also announced the budget will include a five-year, $97 million commitment for a foreign credential recognition action fund.
She said the federal government will work with provinces and territories to make credential recognition fairer, faster and more transparent, and help qualified foreign-trained professionals contribute more quickly to the workforce in fields with labour shortages such as health care and construction.
The budget will also provide $75 million over three years to boost an apprenticeship training program focused on the building trades.
Hajdu said this will boost union-based apprenticeship training in the Red Seal trades to help ensure there are enough workers to build major infrastructure and new homes across the country.
"We're not just going to create those jobs. We are going to create meaningful pathways to long-term careers that will really build Canada strong," the minister said.
She was asked by a reporter if the measures she had just outlined are a sign that Canadians should expect rough economic times because of the trade war with the U.S.
"I don't think anyone's denying that this is profoundly difficult for Canadians. There's a lot of anxiety and fear out there," she replied. "We recognize these are difficult times, but there are things we can't control, and there are things we can. And one of the things we can control is how we invest in our people."
Hajdu was also asked twice if she believed Ontario Premier Doug Ford made a mistake with the recent TV ad about tariffs that caused President Donald Trump to terminate trade talks with Canada.
Neither of her responses addressed the reporter's question.