Hon. Andrew Cardozo: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate. I want to ask about the Spring Economic Update 2026, focusing on issues about improving the lives of Canadians, which are issues that I and others have been raising.

In terms of youth unemployment, we certainly have a crisis of youth unemployment, which is twice that of general unemployment.

There are some measures in the update. Could you highlight what you think are the measures that would take effect as early as possible, and what would be the most effective of the various measures that were announced?

Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Is this for young people?

Senator Cardozo: Yes.

Senator Moreau: Yes, the government is proud of its commitment to launch Team Canada Strong, a program that will give young Canadians a direct, paid pathway into the work of building Canada. The aim is to recruit, train and hire 80,000 to 100,000 new Red Seal trades workers aligned to Canada’s housing, infrastructure, resource development and defence needs by 2030-31.

Red Seal is a program that sets common standards for tradespeople across Canada. The Team Canada Strong program will start at job placement. Employers, including small- and medium-sized businesses, will receive up to $10,000 per apprentice, and the apprentice will receive a weekly income top‑up of up to $400 per week for a total payment of up to $16,000 per apprentice while they are attending mandatory in‑class technical training.

Senator Cardozo: Thank you for that. I have one more issue I want to raise in terms of improving the lives of Canadians in the update, and that’s the Disability Tax Credit. I would have liked to have seen the rate be increased.

Be that as it may, there has been an improvement in the process of applying for the Disability Tax Credit. Could you highlight what the change is there, please?

Senator Moreau: Yes, rapidly, the government is proposing that a qualified medical practitioner certify that a person has one of the identified conditions without having to provide additional information, which will make the issue simpler. The changes are expected to provide $345 million over six years in additional tax relief to Canadians.

It is a very good measure.