MNI BRIEF: Canada Budget to Focus on Jobs and Growth- Freeland

Canada's April 19 budget will be focused on restoring the million jobs lost during the pandemic and igniting economic growth, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said Thursday, a strategy the IMF and business groups who have spoken to MNI have cautioned may not be effective.

"This is going to be a budget about getting Canada and Canadians back to work, fulfilling the commitment in the Speech from the Throne to help support one million jobs, and help Canada heal the economic wounds of Covid-19," Freeland said at a press conference in response to a question from MNI.

Freeland said in response to another MNI question about a recent surge in housing prices that "we are of course watching housing markets across the country very carefully, and we are very aware also of the challenges that many Canadians face, particularly young Canadians, in buying a home."