Domestic policy of the Justin Trudeau government

Several policies regarding interior and domestic issues in Canada were planned and adopted by the Canadian Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, following the October 19, 2015, election of the Liberal Party to a majority of seats in the House of Commons, such as social and environmental policies.

The government's economic policy relied on increased tax revenues to pay for increased government spending. While the government did not balance the budget in its first term, it purported being fiscally responsible by reducing the country's debt-to-GDP ratio every year until 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.^[1] Trudeau's progressive social policy included strong advocacy for feminism and abortion rights,^[2] and introduced the right to medically assisted dying.^[3]

Government environmental policy included introducing new commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% to 45% before 2030, and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.^[4] The main tool for reaching this target is a federal carbon pricing policy.^[5] Parliament also adopted legislation for marine conservation,^[6] banning six common single-use plastic products,^[7] and strengthening environmental impact assessments.^[8] However, the government continued to support oil and gas pipelines to bring Canadian fossil fuel resources to foreign markets.^[9]

The government set targets to welcome an increased number of immigrants and refugees.^[10][11] Canada also legalized cannabis for recreational use in 2018.^[12] In 2021, Trudeau announced the creation of a national child care plan with the intention of reducing day care fees for parents down to CA$10 per day per child within five years.^[13] Trudeau also revised the Safe Third Country Agreement in 2023, which led to the closing of the unofficial border crossing on Roxham Road.^[14]