The Honourable Ryan Turnbull says the government is focused on building “a more inclusive, competitive, and future-ready Canada.” CPJ and its members believe that a budget to this end must prioritize the basic human rights of all people and the stewardship of our environment. As the Department of Finance Canada works on Budget 2026, CPJ has submitted our priorities and recommendations.
Read the Summary Recommendations below or download the full submission [PDF].
Summary of Recommendations
Climate Justice
- Let the Canada-Saskatchewan Coal Equivalency Agreement Expire
- Restore the Near-Term Signal in Industrial Carbon Pricing
- Support the Next Generation of Canada’s Workforce with a Youth Climate Corps
- Cancel Unjust Debts Owed to Canada
Poverty Eradication
- Provide a Minimum Income Floor Through Government Transfers
- Invest in Publicly Funded, Publicly Delivered Health and Social Services
- Provide Stability and Security Through Adequate Housing
Refugee and Migrant Rights
- Build a More Inclusive and Future-Ready Canada by Implementing a Broad Regularization Program
- Reverse the 30% Copayments and $4 Prescription Fees for Refugee Healthcare
- Invest in Settlement Services for Newcomers to Canada
- Ensure That at Least 15% of Immigration Levels are Dedicated to Refugee Resettlement
- Include 20,000 Government-Assisted Refugees in Refugee Resettlement Levels Each Year
- Ensure That the Target of Privately Sponsored Refugees Is Sufficient to Absorb the Backlog
Indigenous Rights and Justice
- Ensure Equal Funding for Indigenous-Led Restorative Justice Programs
