Budget 2023

On March 28, 2023, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, tabled the federal government''s 2023 budget (Budget 2023—A Made-in-Canada Plan: Strong Middle Class, Affordable Economy, Healthy Future) in the House of Commons.

Most of the initiatives were focused on mitigating inflation and ensuring affordability for Canadians, there were some items that focused on green economy and continuing previous commitments to environmental stewardship. Items of interest include:

• Funding proposed for DFO to continue to meet the requirements of the Fisheries Act, as updated in 2019, to protect fish and fish habitat.
• Budget 2023 proposes to provide $650 million over ten years, starting in 2023-24, to support monitoring, assessment, and restoration work in the Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg, Lake of the Woods, St. Lawrence River, Fraser River, Saint John River, Mackenzie River, and Lake Simcoe. Budget 2023 also proposes to provide $22.6 million over three years, starting in 2023-24, to support better coordination of efforts to protect freshwater across Canada.
• Budget 2023 also proposes to provide $85.1 million over five years, starting in 2023-24, with $0.4 million in remaining amortization and $21 million ongoing thereafter to support the creation of the Canada Water Agency, which will be headquartered in Winnipeg. By the end of 2023, the government will introduce legislation that will fully establish the Canada Water Agency as a standalone entity.

Access the full range of measures in the 2023 Budget at:
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2023/03/government-of-canada-releases-budget-2023.html

Canadian Water and Wastewater Association