TORONTO, May 4, 2024
/CNW/ - Canada is stronger not in
spite of our diversity, but because of it. Our rich cultural fabric
is full of long and celebrated histories and telling these stories
both informs and builds our communities. With Budget 2024, we're
preserving the past and telling the remarkable stories behind
Canada's diversity.
One of Canada's most vibrant
communities is the Sikh Canadian community. Sikh Canadians have
been an important part of our history for generations. In the early
twentieth century, the first Sikhs arrived in British Columbia from Punjab. From the rail
roads to defence, science, art, business, and
politics – Sikh Canadians have made remarkable
contributions to Canada and
Canada's prosperity ever since. We
must preserve this heritage so that future generations of Sikh
Canadians – and all Canadians –
know the contributions of the community throughout our history.
The Prime Minister, Justin
Trudeau, today highlighted investments included in Budget
2024 to preserve Sikh Canadian heritage. We are:
- Helping create the Gallery of Global Sikh Art and Culture in
the Royal Ontario Museum. With a $6
million investment, we'll be working closely with the Sikh
Arts and Culture Foundation and the Royal Ontario Museum to build a
space dedicated to Sikh arts, culture, and heritage.
- Supporting the completion of a short film on Canadian and
Indian soldiers in the First and Second World Wars. With a
$1.8 million investment, we'll be
supporting the Indus Media Foundation in Surrey, British Columbia, to complete this
short film. By preserving this heritage and encouraging others to
learn more, we're keeping Sikh Canadian stories alive for the next
generation.
Sikh Canadians have helped make Canada the country we know and love. Like so
many diverse communities across the country, they work every day to
make Canada even better. Alongside
these investments, Budget 2024 is also about building more homes,
improving health care, cracking down on auto theft, and investing
in our economy – to make sure every Canadian has
a fair chance to succeed.
Quotes
"The story of the Sikh community in Canada is, in fact, the story of Canada. The investments in Budget 2024 will
help Sikh Canadians share their own stories, create their own
spaces, and preserve their own heritage – because
diversity is our greatest strength. Let's keep working together to
make Canada more inclusive, more
vibrant, and more welcoming for everyone."
— The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau,
Prime Minister of Canada
"Canada is proud to be home to
one of the largest Sikh diasporas in the world. The investments we
are making are a recognition that Sikh Canadians have significantly
contributed to making our country stronger, more prosperous, and
more diverse. The new Gallery of Global Sikh Art and Culture at the
Royal Ontario Museum will be a welcome addition to the
community."
— The Hon. Chrystia Freeland,
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
"Sikh history is Canadian history. It is a history filled with
immense resilience, compassion, determination, and strength. The
investments in Budget 2024 will ensure that the story of Sikhs in
Canada, and the many incredible
contributions that Sikhs have made to our country, are known now
and for generations to come."
— The Hon. Kamal Khera,
Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities
"Through museums, we reflect collectively on Canadian,
Indigenous, and diverse stories. Our government's support of the
Sikh Arts and Culture Foundation and the Royal Ontario Museum in
creating a gallery dedicated to Sikh arts, culture, and heritage is
an important step forward. We know our country's rich cultural
fabric is stronger when we support authentic art, storytelling, and
lived experiences. This space will celebrate Canada's Sikh community, their history, and
their contributions to our society – building
bridges across communities."
— The Hon. Pascale St-Onge,
Minister of Canadian Heritage
"The Royal Ontario Museum is tremendously grateful for the
$6 million commitment to the Gallery
of Global Sikh Art and Culture in the 2024 federal budget.
Developed with the support of the Sikh Arts and Culture Foundation
of Canada, and the broader Sikh
community, this future gallery will be an important expansion of
the Museum's suite of galleries devoted to South Asia, which was the first of its kind in
Canada."
— Josh Basseches, Director and Chief Executive Officer of the
Royal Ontario Museum
Quick Facts
- The Government of Canada's
investment in the Royal Ontario Museum is part of a $11 million package proposed in Budget 2024,
which will also support the operations of the Hellenic Community of
Vancouver.
- The Indus Media Foundation is a registered non-profit society
based in lower mainland British
Columbia. The Foundation seeks to foster appreciation for
Punjabi culture.
- The Government of Canada is
making generational investments to make life more affordable, build
more homes, improve health care, protect Canadians, and grow our
economy. Budget 2024 proposes to:
- Restore generational fairness for renters, particularly
Millennials and Gen Z, by taking new action to protect
renters' rights and unlock pathways for them to become homeowners.
Learn more.
- Save more young families money and help more moms return to
their careers by building more affordable child care
spaces and training more early childhood educators across
Canada. Learn more.
- Create a National School Food Program to provide meals to about
400,000 kids every year and help ensure every child has the best
start in life, no matter their circumstances. Learn more.
- Launch a new $6 billion Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund
to accelerate the construction or upgrade of essential
infrastructure across the country and get more homes built for
Canadians. Learn more.
- Top-up the Apartment Construction Loan Program with
$15 billion, make new reforms so it is easier to access, and
launch Canada Builds to call on all provinces and territories to
join a Team Canada effort to build more homes, faster. Learn
more.
- Support renters by launching a new $1.5 billion Canada Rental Protection Fund
to preserve more rental homes and make sure they stay affordable.
Learn more.
- Change the way we build homes through a $600 million
package of measures to make it easier and cheaper to build more
homes, faster, including through a new Homebuilding Technology and
Innovation Fund and a new Housing Design Catalogue. Learn
more.
- Support Canada's renewed
defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed
Vision for Canada's Defence,
through a new overall investment of $8.1
billion over five years and $73
billion over 20 years. Learn more.
- Make housing more affordable through Solving the housing
crisis: Canada's Housing Plan.
Learn more.
- Strengthen Canadian research and innovation through an over
$4.6 billion package of measures.
Learn more.
- Support First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities through an
investment of $9.4 billion so they
can grow and thrive. Learn more.
- Build more affordable homes on public lands –
and make housing fairer for every generation. Learn more.
Associated Links
- Budget 2024: Fairness for Every Generation
- Royal Ontario Museum
This document is also available at https://pm.gc.ca
SOURCE Prime Minister's Office