Filipino community pushes $100M ask ahead of Canada's Budget 2026
A coalition of Filipino groups requested $100 million for entrepreneurs, professionals and community infrastructure. Whether any of it made the budget is not yet known.
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Filipino community groups have asked Ottawa for $100 million for entrepreneurs, professionals and community infrastructure, a first for the community. The request went in through the federal pre-budget consultation process, and the federal budget is set to be tabled Thursday.
Charmaine Ramirez, executive director of Pwrforward, one of the groups behind the proposal, said the community put the request together this year. The national coalition behind it, the Filipino-Canadian National Coalition, is a coalition of Filipino groups that advocated for the proposal.
Liberal MP Michael Coteau told the House of Commons on Oct. 29 that he supports the proposal. "We know that the Filipino community has contributed so much to building this country economically and socially, while also enriching our cultural fabric," Coteau said. "I will be working with the community to explore ways to move this forward."
Toronto resident Hygelyn Dulnuan said funding would help support projects in the community. Community member Kadmiel Reyes raised inflation and gas prices, saying prices are higher by Monday than they were on Friday, and said members want affordability measures in the budget.
The budget is expected to be tabled Thursday. Whether the $100 million is in the budget will be known when it is tabled.
Is the $100 million request in the budget, and if so, how much of it?
What is the government's response to the coalition's proposal?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
