- the November 14/05 federal Economic and Fiscal Update
- presentations to the Finance Committee 2005 Pre-budget Consultation
- the September 14/05 British Columbia Budget 2005 Update
- the May 11/05 Ontario 2005-2006 Budget
- the April 26/05 Nova Scotia 2005-2006 Budget
- the April 21/05 Québec 2005-2006 Budget
- the April 13/05 Alberta 2005-2006 Budget
- the April 7/05 Prince Edward Island 2005-2006 Budget
- the March 30/05 New Brunswick 2005-2006 Budget
- the March 23/05 Yukon 2005-2006 Budget
- the March 23/05 Saskatchewan 2005-2006 Budget
- the March 21/05 Manitoba 2005-2006 Budget
- the March 21/05 Newfoundland and Labrador 2005-2006 Budget
- the February 25/05 Nunavut Budget 2005-2006
- the February 23/05 Federal Budget 2005-2006 + media budget links + budget analysis and commentary by a number of national Canadian NGOs
- the February 15/05 British Columbia Budget 2005-06
- the February 10/05 Northwest Territories Budget 2005-06
- Federal Budget 2005 Consultation (fall 2004) + Alternative Federal Budget 2005

The Economic and Fiscal Update - November 14, 2005

From the Department of Finance Canada:

Minister of Finance Tables Notice of Ways and Means Motion for Remaining Budget 2005 Income Tax Measures
November 17, 2005
- Includes a Backgrounder and Notice of Ways and Means Motion to Implement Certain Provisions of the Budget Tabled in Parliament on February 23, 2005.

Minister of Finance Proposes Amendments Concerning the Income Tax Treatment of Certain Expenditures
November 17, 2005
- Includes Backgrounder and Notice of Ways and Means Motion to Amend the Income Tax Act

Proposed GST/HST Amendments Relating to the Financial Services Sector
November 17, 2005
- Includes Legislative Proposals, Draft Regulations and Explanatory Notes Relating to the Excise Tax Act

Treasury Evaluation Program Framework
Describes the objectives and process of the Treasury Evaluation Program (TEP) of the Department of Finance.

Immediate Income Tax Relief: Notice of Ways and Means Motion Tabled to Implement Update 2005 Measures
November 14, 2005
- Includes Notice of Ways and Means Motion and Explanatory Notes

Economic and Fiscal Update: Strong Growth, Healthy Finances and a New Plan to Promote Long-Term Prosperity
November 14, 2005
- includes The Economic and Fiscal Update 2005

The Economic and Fiscal Update
November 14, 2005
Everything you wanted to know about the Economic and Fiscal Update, including:

Economic and Fiscal Update: Strong Growth, Healthy Finances and a New Plan to Promote Long-Term Prosperity
News Release

Flash presentation of Update 2005
- includes 2005 Tax Savings Calculator (Flash v.8 plugin required)

Overview
HTML version
PDF version (157K, 10 pages)

Speech
HTML version
PDF version (89K, 16 pages)

Complete report:

The Economic and Fiscal Update
Background Material to the Presentation (PDF file - 1.9MB, 214 pages)
November 2005

Table of Contents
- select individual chapters or annexes to read in HTML format:
1. Overview
2. Economic Developments and Prospects
3. Canada’s Fiscal Progress
4. Private Sector Five-Year Economic and Fiscal Projections
5. A Plan for Growth and Prosperity
Annexes
1. Risks and Uncertainties in Fiscal Projections
2. Perspective: Long-Term Track Record of Fiscal Forecasting
2.b Details on Differences by Fiscal Year
3. National Accounts–Public Accounts Reconciliation
4. Detailed Descriptions of Tax Measures

Google Web Search Results : "Economic and Fiscal Update, Canada"
Google News search Results : "Economic and Fiscal Update, Canada"
Source:
Google.ca

Presentations to the Finance Committee 2005 Pre-budget Consultation

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

October 2005
Let's Make Productivity Work for Canadians:
Presentation to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance
Pre-Budget Consultation
Peter Bleyer, President
Canadian Council on Social Development
"The growing shadow of social exclusion has to be tackled head on: child poverty, the racialization of poverty, aboriginal poverty, and growing inequality between have's and have nots. These are barriers to labour force entry that compromise any aspirations to being a truly productive society, they taint our collective quality of life and clash with our core values."
Source:
Canadian Council on Social Development

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

14-Oct-05

Early learning and child care submission
by Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada
Submission by the Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada to the pre-budget consultation of the Federal Standing Committee on Finance calls for increased funding to child care combined with stronger policy and greater accountability.

Source:
Childcare Resource and Research Unit (CRRU)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Let's Make Productivity Work for Canadians
CCSD's Presentation to the Finance Committee 2005 Pre-budget Consultation
[October 5, 2005]

Source:
Canadian Council on Social Development

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reducing Child Poverty to Increase Productivity: A Human Capital Strategy
Brief to the Standing Committee on Finance (PDF file - 89K, 8 pages)
Pre-Budget Consultation
September, 2005
By Laurel Rothman
National Coordinator, Campaign 2000
"The fact that 15% of our youngest citizens are growing up in poverty does not bode well for Canada’s future productivity performance, which is the focus of the 2005 Pre-Budget Consultations. Broad based investment in our human capital is essential for a productivity agenda. "Canada’s Fiscal Outlook projects surpluses of almost $30 billion over the next five years. With consecutive multi-billion dollar budget surpluses, Canada has the resources to make substantial progress. We call on the federal government to commit a portion of these surpluses to invest in children, as they have committed portions for healthcare and equalization payments."

Source:
Campaign 2000

Improved Support for Seniors at Heart of Budget Debate
BC Ministry of Finance
News Release
Sept. 14, 2005
"VICTORIA – Improved support for senior citizens is at the heart of new budget measures that also include a significant fund for First Nations and tax reductions to help keep B.C.’s economy strong, Finance Minister Carole Taylor announced with the release of the September Budget Update. The September Budget Update provides an additional $242 million over three years to improve the lives of senior citizens. New measures include:
· Renewing the Seniors’ Supplement, to provide a monthly benefit for approximately 40,000 low income seniors;
· Doubling annual funding for the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) program, to improve subsidies for lower income seniors who rent, and expand coverage to those who own manufactured homes and pay monthly pad rentals; the changes will apply to approximately 12,000 seniors already receiving SAFER benefits and open the program to an additional 7,200 senior citizens; and
· Updating existing seniors’ health facilities and strengthening and modernizing the full range of services for seniors, to help them live as independently as possible."

September Update - Balanced Budget 2005
BC Ministry of Finance
Sept. 14, 2005
- incl. links to all budget papers as well as the BC Government Strategic Plan for 2005/06 – 2007/08 and Service Plans Updates for all BC ministries, for example:
--- Employment and Income Assistance
--- Children and Family Development
--- Community Services
NOTE: these service plan updates often contain interesting program and policy nuggets --- use the links in the left-hand margin of each Ministry's page (above) to explore the content of each plan.

Google Web Search Results : "british columbia, budget, september 2005"
Google News search Results : "british columbia, budget, september 2005"
Source:
Google.ca

Ontario Budget 2005-2006
May 11, 2005

2005 Budget Invests in People — Strengthens Ontario's Economy
May 11, 2005
News Release

2005 Budget Highlights

Ontario budget moves forward on housing and education – but little else for low income families
News alert
May 12, 2005
"The 2005 Ontario budget contains few measures that will make a difference in the lives of the approximately 373,000 Ontario children living below the poverty line. Children’s advocates were pleased to see new provincial funding for post secondary education and housing, but disappointed with the lack of progress on ending the clawback and ensuring adequate social assistance benefits."
Source:
Ontario Campaign 2000

Ontario Alternative Budget 2005
Addressing the Real Fiscal Imbalance
April 11, 2005
- includes links to the News Release, the complete alternative budget and highlights.
Source:
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

Ontario's poor get left behind
May 18, 2005
By Carol Goar
"...it would have cost the government about $110 million to honour its pledge to index social assistance to the cost of the living. That is less than the $400 million the Liberals gave Casino Windsor in February; less than the $235 million subsidy they handed General Motors in March; and less than the $120 million they found to sweeten their deal with the Ontario Medical Association a few days later. Most voters aren't likely to notice. They've never needed welfare and don't have much contact with those who do. They're not inclined to punish politicians who promise to help the poor, but don't deliver. It is really a matter of conscience for McGuinty..."
Source:
The Toronto Star

Google.ca News Search Results : "Ontario Budget 2005"
Google.ca Web Search Results : "Ontario Budget 2005"
Source:
Google.ca

2005 Prince Edward Island Provincial Budget
April 7, 2005

Backgrounder: Health and Social Services
(specific measures in the 2005 budget concerning health and social services)
- includes : Program Highlights 2004-2005 - Budget 2005 Highlights
NOTE: The Dept. of Social Services and Health is splitting in two : Dept. of Health and Dept. of Social Services and Seniors.
For more detailed info on this split, see the Canadian Social Research Links PEI Links page

Google.ca News Search Results : "Prince Edward Island Budget 2005"
Google.ca Web Search Results : "Prince Edward Island Budget 2005"
Source:
Google.ca

2005-2006 New Brunswick Budget
March 30, 2005
"Finance Minister Jeannot Volpé tabled on March 30, 2005 a balanced budget that invests record amounts in health and senior care, as well as in education and children. The 2005-2006 budget also contains further tax relief for New Brunswickers and small businesses. Building a Stronger New Brunswick for All contains total expenditures of $6.105 billion, an increase of 3.7 per cent from the revised 2004-2005 level. It contains no tax increases or new taxes."
- incl. links to : Speech - Highlights booklet - The New Brunswick Economy - Main Estimates - News release - Fact sheets - Workforce Profile

Finance minister delivers balanced budget
March 30
CBC News
"Finance Minister Jeannot Volpe has introduced a balanced budget with no new taxes, a tax cut for small business and roughly $200 million in new spending on health care and education. (...) New Brunswick's welfare rates, among the lowest in Canada, will be increased for the first time since 1997. But the increases will be small. Volpe says the social assistance rates will go up a total of six per cent over the next three years. When fully implemented, that will boost the annual income for a single parent with two children by $624 a year. The two per cent increase scheduled for this year will amount to an increase of $16 a month for the same family. Volpe said it was better than no increase, but he admitted it wasn't much."

Groups react to 'small change' budget
March 31
CBC News
"FREDERICTON - Business people say they like the small tax cuts in the Lord government's new budget. And advocates for the poor say the small increase in welfare rates is better than nothing, but not much."

Google.ca News Search Results : "New Brunswick Budget 2005"
Google.ca Web Search Results : "New Brunswick Budget 2005"
Source:
Google.ca

Fentie Tables 2005/06 Budget - Yukon
News Release
March 24, 2005
"WHITEHORSE - The Government of Yukon's Capital and Operations and Maintenance budget, totaling over $784 million, is being tabled today in the Yukon Legislative Assembly by Premier Dennis Fentie."
- includes detailed Budget Highlights

Yukon Finance Department Home Page - links to the 2005-2006 Budget Address and Highlights, 2005-2006 Financial Information and Projections, 2005-2006 Capital Estimates, Operation and Maintenance Estimates
[NOTE: some of these links weren't working on March 30]

Google.ca News Search Results : "Yukon Budget 2005"
Google.ca Web Search Results : "Yukon Budget 2005"
Source:
Google.ca

Saskatchewan 2005-2006 Provincial Budget
March 23, 2005
- incl. links to : Budget and Performance Plan - Summary - Budget Address - Budget Address (French) - Performance Plans - Estimates - Supplementary Estimates - Greensheet - Budget Highlight Card - Budget Highlight Card (French)

Google.ca News Search Results : "Saskatchewan Budget 2005"
Google.ca Web Search Results : "Saskatchewan Budget 2005"
Source:
Google.ca

Manitoba Budget 2005 : Balancing Priorities. Building Opportunities. Investing in Tomorrow.
March 21, 2005
- incl. links to : Minister's Budget Message - Speech - Budget In Brief - Budget Papers - The Manitoba Advantage - Addressing Poverty in Manitoba - Manitoba's Action Strategy for Economic Growth - Revenue and Expenditures - Tax Savings Estimator - News Releases - 2005 Budget Documents Request Form

Addressing Poverty in Manitoba
[2005 Budget Paper]
"Finding the right mix of policy options to ensure that all members of society who are able to, have the opportunity to participate in the work force is a key challenge facing governments across Canada. In Manitoba, the challenge is complicated by several factors..."
[Previously published as “Welfare to Work: Creating a Community Where all Can Work,” Canadian Journal of Career Development 3, #2 2004]

Google.ca News Search Results : "Manitoba Budget 2005"
Google.ca Web Search Results : "Manitoba Budget 2005"
Source:
Google.ca

Newfoundland and Labrador Budget 2005
A New Future. A Renewed Pride.
March 21, 2005
- incl. links to : Budget Speech - Budget Highlights - News Releases - Estimates - The Economy 2005

Building pathways to poverty reduction
March 21, 2005
Human Resources, Labour and Employment
"Joan Burke, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, said today that several Budget 2005 measures help lessen poverty in Newfoundland and Labrador, including funding for the development of a strategic plan on addressing the issue of poverty."
- highlights include a two-part increase in income support (welfare) for couples and single clients without children (1% in July 2005 and 1% in January 2006), a 10% increase in the earnings exemption level and more funds for employment-related activities for people with disabilities, for the Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit and for "a second pilot project to assist single parents in receipt of income support prepare for, find and keep employment."

Preparing our youth for success
March 21, 2005
(Human Resources, Labour and Employment)
"Joan Burke, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, says Budget 2005 places a renewed focus on the young people of Newfoundland and Labrador, especially those youth who live in poverty and who rely on income support. 'Low education levels, a lack of a high school diploma and limited work experience are key characteristics of a dependence on income support from one generation to the next and a cycle of poverty,' said Minister Burke. 'In 2003 youth, 18 to 29 years old, represented one-quarter of the income support caseload and almost 50 per cent of all new entrants. These numbers are alarming and are an indication of many complex issues that require a focused, coordinated approach.'"

Google.ca News Search Results : "Newfoundland Budget 2005"
Google.ca Web Search Results : "Newfoundland Budget 2005"
Source:
Google.ca

Budget Establishes Fiscal Framework for Pinasuaqtavut (PDF file - 38K, 2 pages)
News Release
February 25, 2005
"IQALUIT, Nunavut – Finance Minister Leona Aglukkaq today unveiled a balanced $935.8-million 2005-06 budget that establishes a fiscal framework for implementation of priorities in Pinasuaqtavut, the government's mandate for its current term."
Source:
Nunavut Department of Finance

Nunavut Budget 2005-06
Budget Address (PDF file - 79K, 26 pages)
Budget Highlights (PDF file - 98K, 2 pages)
Capital Estimates (English and Inuktitut) - PDF file (6.46MB, 166 pages)

Federal Budget 2005
February 23, 2005
- links to all budget papers (in HTML and PDF format)

Budget 2005: Delivering on Commitments
News Release
February 23, 2005
"Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale announced today that Budget 2005 will deliver on the Government’s commitments, while keeping Canada’s books balanced. Minister Goodale emphasized that the measures contained in this budget commit substantial new funding for health care, seniors, child care, national defence and the environment, while providing tax reductions and laying the groundwork for future progress in addressing the priorities of Canadians."
Key initiatives include:
* Implementation of the Government’s commitment to provide Canada’s communities with a share of federal gas excise tax revenues.
* $5 billion over five years to the development of a new Early Learning and Child Care initiative—a key commitment in last year’s Speech from the Throne.
* $5 billion over five years to help fund new strategies to address climate change and protect Canada’s natural environment.
* Increasing Guaranteed Income Supplement benefits for low-income seniors by $2.7 billion over five years.
* $12.8 billion over five years (on a cash basis) to support expansion of the Canadian Armed Forces and purchase new equipment.
* $735 million over five years to address the urgent needs of First Nations communities.
* Enhancing tax assistance for persons with disabilities and caregivers through expanded eligibility for the disability tax credit and other measures.
* Raising the amount of income that all Canadians can earn tax-free to $10,000 by 2009.
* Eliminating the corporate surtax in 2008 and reducing the corporate income tax rate by 2 percentage points by 2010 to maintain Canada’s tax rate advantage over the U.S.
* Eliminating the 30-per-cent foreign property limit on pension and registered retirement savings plan investments.
* $3.4 billion over five years to boost Canada’s international assistance, with the goal of doubling assistance from its 2001–02 level by 2010–11.

Budget Speech
Budget in Brief (+ Overview)
Budget Plan 2005 - this is where you'll find the detailed information.
- sample content from the Budget Plan:
Chapter 3 Securing Canada's Social Foundations (includes Canada Health Transfer / Canada Social Transfer federal $ commitments right into the next decade and much more...)
Chapter 4.1 - A Productive, Growing and Sustainable Economy: Investing in People - incl. early learning and child care info

Media Coverage of Budget 2005:
Budget 2005 - Canada.com
Budget 2005 - CTV
Budget 2005 - CBC News

Google.ca News Search Results : "Federal Budget 2005"
Google.ca Web Search Results : "Federal Budget 2005"
Source:
Google.ca

----------------------------

Related Links:

----------------------------

Minister of Finance Releases Draft Legislative Proposals Implementing Remaining Budget 2005 Income Tax Measures
August 15, 2005
"Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale today released a package of draft amendments to the Income Tax Act to implement measures originally proposed in Budget 2005.
These measures include:
* Introducing a new tax credit for adoption expenses such as adoption agency and legal fees.
* Improving the disability tax credit and making it more widely available.
* Further changes to improve the tax treatment of persons with disabilities and those who care for them, for example, by doubling the amount of disability-related and medical expenses that can be claimed by a caregiver, and expanding the list of expenses eligible for the medical expense tax credit and the disability supports deduction.
* Helping agricultural cooperative corporations through a new tax deferral in respect of certain patronage dividends."

Related Documents:
* Legislative Proposals Relating to Certain Income Tax Measures Announced in Budget 2005
* Explanatory Notes to Legislative Proposals Relating to Certain Income Tax Measures Announced in Budget 2005

----------------------------

Campaign 2000 Responds to Federal Budget
News alert
February 24, 2005
"The 2005 Federal Budget has taken a step in the right direction with a commitment of $5 billion for a national system of early learning and child care – a key pathway to addressing Canada’s child and family poverty rate of 15.6 per cent."
Source:
Campaign 2000

----------------------------

Promising start for child care
February 24, 2005
"It may not shorten the waiting lists for licensed child care spaces today, but the federal budget holds the promise of a better future for Canada's children, says a University of Guelph child care expert.
Source:
Childcare Resource and Research Unit

----------------------------

Federal Surplus: A Deficit for the Poor
February 23, 2005
The Canadian Association of Food Banks [CAFB] is outraged that during a time of fiscal abundance, food bank lines are getting longer
Source:
Canadian Association of Food Banks

----------------------------

Federal budget 2005: what we needed and what we got
February 23, 2005
"The federal government missed a huge opportunity to use the massive Canadian surplus to address the country’s large social and physical infrastructure deficit. Canadians voted in a Liberal minority government, Canadians were looking for a progressive budget. Instead what we got was a budget only a conservative could love."
Source:
Canadian Union of Public Employees

----------------------------

Budget 2005:
Missed Opportunity to Move Forward on Poverty Reduction
February 24, 2005
"Given the large surpluses the Finance Minister had to work with, NAPO expected more from this government and poor Canadians deserved much more than the Liberals delivered."
Source:
National Anti-Poverty Organization

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Once Again Left Without Supports:
Council of Canadians with Disabilities' Response to Budget 2005
February 23, 2005
"Today's federal Budget improves tax fairness for Canadians with disabilities but does nothing to improve the situation of those most in need," said Marie White, Chairperson of CCD. 'The improved tax measures are a positive step in the right direction in addressing the need for investment in supports, BUT, they are of no benefit to the vast majority of Canadians with disabilities who live in poverty and have no taxable income', said White."
Source:
Council of Canadians with Disabilities
Posted on the website of:
DAWN DisAbled Women's Network - Ontario

-----------------------------------------------------------------

A temperate budget that leaves some people out in the cold:
2005 federal budget analysis from Citizens for Public Justice (PDF file - 305K, 6 pages)
February 24, 2005
Source:
Citizens for Public Justice

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Not one new penny for housing
By Carol Goar
Feb. 28, 2005
"Housing Minister Joe Fontana swung into damage control within hours of last week's federal budget.He had a lot to explain. Not one penny of the $1.5 billion in housing funds promised by the Liberals in the last election materialized in the budget. Not one paragraph was devoted to affordable housing. Not one new housing initiative was launched."
Source:
The Toronto Star

From the Government of British Columbia:

Balanced Budget 2005:
Towards a Golden Decade for British Columbia
- links to all budget papers

News Release
February 15, 2005
"VICTORIA – A strong economy and sound fiscal management paved the way for tax reductions benefiting lower and modest income British Columbians, increased funding for health, education and other key programs, and a record $1.7 billion debt reduction, Finance Minister Colin Hansen said today as he tabled Balanced Budget 2005."

- Backgrounder
- Highlights

------------------------

From the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - BC Office:

Provincial budget fails to address BC's social deficits
News Release
February 15, 2005
"Vancouver - The provincial government’s pre-election budget, tabled today, fails to address BC’s social deficits, according to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. 'The government claims that its approach is balanced. Its approach for the last four years, however, has been anything but,' says Seth Klein, the CCPA’s BC Director. 'BC has seen a significant redistribution of income from the poorest among us to the wealthiest. This budget fails to restore the deep and painful spending cuts of recent years. Spending outside health and education remains $1.2 billion lower than in 2001/02.'”

Related Link:

Surplus should be reinvested in people and communities
CCPA outlines budget choices in 2005 BC Solutions Budget
News Release
February 7, 2005
(Vancouver) The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says the priority for this year’s provincial budget should be reinvestment in people and communities. “The government is set to finish the year with a record surplus of over $2 billion, and a projected surplus in 2005/06 of $1.4 billion,” says Seth Klein, Director of the CCPA’s BC Office. “Our number one priority should be to undo the damage from deep spending cuts. We should not lock them in place with further tax cuts or make payments on the provincial debt.”

Summary: BC Solutions Budget 2005 - PDF File, 98 Kb
BC Solutions Budget 2005 - PDF File, 457 Kb

Source:
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - BC Office
[See also the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - National Office ]

------------------------

Google News search Results : "British Columbia Budget 2005"
Google Web Search Results : "British Columbia Budget 2005"
Source:
Google.ca

Northwest Territories Budget Shows Fiscal House is in Order
News Release
February 10, 2005
"YELLOWKNIFE – The new Fiscal Responsibility Policy was unveiled by Finance Minister Floyd Roland today when he presented the Government of the Northwest Territories’ (GNWT) 2005-06 Budget to the 15th Legislative Assembly."

Budget Highlights (PDF file - 114K, 4 pages)
Budget Address (HTML)
Download Budget Documents (incl. budget address + economic and fiscal review, previous years' budgets)

Source:
Government of the Northwest Territories

Google News search Results : "Northwest Territories Budget 2005"
Google Web Search Results : "Northwest Territories Budget 2005"
Source:
Google.ca

Federal Budget 2005 Consultation (fall 2004) + CPA Alternative Federal Budgets

Alternative Federal Budget (AFB)
- includes links to Alternative Federal Budgets and related papers from 1999 to date

Alternative Provincial Budgets - Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC only
- click on a province's name in the left margin of the page, then on Publications to see the APBs

Source:
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA)

Selected CCPA releases:

Alternative Federal Budget decodes the spin, provides a guide to the Economic and Fiscal Update
Press Release
November 11, 2005
OTTAWA—Monday’s Economic and Fiscal Update is animated more by politics than economics. In the present political circumstances the temptation for the Liberals to massage their financial disclosures in a manner consistent with their pre-election strategy is great. A new report, released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, provides Canadians with tools to decode the spin. Authored by CCPA Senior Economist Ellen Russell, the report helps journalists and others examine the plausibility of the government’s numbers by providing:
* an assessment of how big the current year’s surplus should be;
* an indication of budget surpluses for future years;
* pointers on how to tell whether the government is spending as much as it seems to be;
* a reality check for the plausibility of revenue and expenditure estimates.

Complete report:

Taking the Spin Out of the Economic and Fiscal Update: A Guide to the Numbers - PDF File (118K - 8 pages)
November 2005

---------------

Debt repayment arguments don’t add up—report
Press Release
November 9, 2005
"OTTAWA—A new study released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives finds that, contrary to popular belief, it does not make economic sense for the Canadian government to pay down the national debt. The study, by Tony Myatt and Joe Ruggeri of the University of New Brunswick, examines the assertion by many economists that lowering the debt-to-GDP ratio will have a substantial positive effect on the standard of living. The consensus estimate is that permanently reducing the debt-to-GDP ratio from 80% to zero would raise the long-run level of consumption by around 8%. However, Myatt and Ruggeri argue that these estimates cannot be used to justify using budget surpluses to pay down the debt because balanced budgets alone are sufficient to shrink the debt-to-GDP ratio—even without debt repayment. Debt repayment simply speeds up the automatic rate of decline in this ratio by a few years."

Complete report:

The Vanishing Efficiency Gains of Debt Repayment - PDF File (209K, 22 pages)
November 2005

Federal budget-making process not meeting women’s needs—report
Press Release
September 19, 2005
"OTTAWA — The federal government's current budgetary process is leaving women behind. A new report by Isabella Bakker, released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) and the Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAFIA), concludes that if women are to be equal benefactors of federal budget surpluses, the federal government must stop ignoring its domestic and international commitments to undertake gender budget analysis in Canada."

Complete report:

Gender Budget Initiatives: Why They Matter in Canada (PDF file, 158K, 8 pages)

Source:
Alternative Federal Budget Research
[ Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives ]

Alternative Federal Budget 2005:

It’s time: $45 billion surplus could fix federal-provincial woes
and address poverty, says Alternative Federal Budget
News Release
February 17, 2005
"OTTAWA — The federal government will have an estimated $45 billion in surplus over the next three years – money that could significantly reduce poverty and inequalities in Canada and lay to rest overheated squabbles over cash transfers to the provinces, says the 2005 Alternative Federal Budget (AFB)."

Budget Document - PDF file (811K, 110 pages)
Budget in Brief - PDF file (401K, 14 pages)
Fact Sheets - PDF file (135K, 9 pages)
Informetrica Assessment of the Alternative Federal Budget 2005 - PDF file (118 K, 4 pages)

Source:
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

Related Links:

CCPA report to House of Commons Finance Committee predicts large surpluses ahead
News Release
August 22, 2005
"OTTAWA—The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, one of the independent forecasters commissioned by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, announced today that is once again forecasting surpluses much higher than the official government figures. In her report to the Committee CCPA Senior Economist Ellen Russell is predicting a surplus of $6.8 billion in 2004/05 and $9.5 billion in 2005/06, while the government is projecting surpluses of $3 billion and $4 billion, respectively. The CCPA’s calculations include the additional spending that was negotiated by the NDP and included in Bill C-48."
Source:
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

Complete report:

Federal Fiscal Forecasting Round 3:
Report to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance (PDF file - 208K, 25 pages)

Information on the 2005 Pre-Budget Consultations 38th Parliament, 1st Session July 7, 2005 "The House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance is planning on holding its public hearings on the 2005 pre-budget consultations from Monday, September 26th to Friday November 4th, 2005." Click the link above for more info on preparing and presenting a brief to the Committee, including "the main themes that the Committee would like to discuss (entrepreneurial, human and physical capital)" and the list of dates and cities where hearings are expected to be held. The deadline for notifying the Committee of your intention to appear or to submit a brief was August 12. RANT: This relatively short bit of textual information is needlessly split into three separate pages. You must click "NEXT PAGE >>" in the bottom right-hand corner of the first page to read the second page and again to read the third page. The nice Parliamentary Internet site folks would probably say that I'm being a tad too picky here, but I'd bet money that many visitors to this "information" page won't get past the first page because they won't even notice the tiny link to the second page. And WASSUP with "the main themes that the Committee would like to discuss"? Does this mean that if you or your group wish to present a brief on something other than the "main themes", your chances of appearing in front of the Committee are slim to none? ("we cannot guarantee that all witnesses requesting to appear can be heard...") Hmph. [If I *were* picky, I'd mention that the date in the top left corner of the first page should be Thursday - not Thrusday - July 7. Spelcheque,pleize!] Source: House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance

Ten Years of Federal Budgets:
Double Whammy for Women
Press Release
"OTTAWA – February 3, 2005 – Federal fiscal choices have done little to improve most women's economic security over the last 10 years, says the first ever analysis of federal budgets on Canadian women. The ground-breaking report, released today in Ottawa by the Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action, tracks a decade of federal budgets. Written by award-winning economist Armine Yalnizyan, it measures the federal government's performance against the explicit commitments it made to gender equality in Beijing in 1995. It shows that massive spending cuts unduly hurt women in the deficit era and women's interests have been largely ignored since Ottawa began posting surpluses."

Canada’s Commitment to Equality: A Gender analysis of the last ten federal budgets
February 2005
By Armine Yalnizyan
Complete report (PDF file - 609K, 117 pages)
Executive Summary

Source:
Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAFIA)

Early learning and child care: Getting the next steps right:
Brief to the Standing Committee on Finance
By Martha Friendly
Published 18 Nov 04
Posted Online December 21
"Based on the history and condition of Canadian ELCC, the commitment to develop a universal system of high quality ELCC by the Liberal government, the high expectation that this time the promises on child care will be fulfilled, and the extensive knowledge about policy learned from work such as the OECD Review, three recommendations about financing ELCC beginning in the 2005 federal budget follow. These financing recommendations propose ways to help ensure that the next steps toward a universal national system of high quality early learning and child care will be the right steps."
Complete Brief (PDF file - 188K, 7 pages)
Source:
Childcare Resource and Research Unit

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

National Anti-Poverty Organization Submission to the Standing Committee on Finance, Pre-Budget Consultations (PDF file - 131K, 15 pages)
November 2004
"Redefining 'Sound Fiscal Management': Creating Financial Priorities that Benefit all Canadians"
Source:
National Anti-Poverty Organization

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Invest surplus in program enhancement, not costly tax cut agenda--report
News Release
NOVEMBER 10, 2004
"OTTAWA--Despite recently well-publicized spending commitments, the federal government will post surpluses totaling $24.1 billion over the next three years, according to the Alternative Federal Budget's (AFB) Economic and Fiscal Update. In keeping with the Chretien-Martin Liberals' practice of amassing significant surpluses--belying dire economic predictions from the Finance Department--the AFB forecasts a $7.7 billion surplus in fiscal year 2004-5, $7.4 billion in 2005-6 and $9.0 billion in 2006-7. Now that the federal surpluses have been acknowledged by other economic forecasters, including the Department of Finance itself, a debate is growing about how to use the surplus: program spending, tax cuts or debt reduction."

Complete Alternate Federal Budget 2005 Economic and Fiscal Update (PDF file - 1.5MB, 9 pages)

Source:
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Federal budget 2005 - Make this the “communities budget,” CUPE leader urges
November 4, 2004
Federal budget 2005
"OTTAWA – The 2005 federal budget must build communities, not back corporations, said CUPE National President Paul Moist as Canada’s largest union presented its pre-budget submission to the federal finance committee. 'The 2005 federal budget can rebuild strong communities across the country by investing public resources in public services,' said Moist. 'Polls show that Canadians want public services in public hands, whether it’s child care, municipal infrastructure or health care. Next year’s budget must reflect that.'"

It’s Time to Rebuild Strong Communities: CUPE’s Submission to the Standing Committee on Finance (PDF file - 62K, 13 pages)
Pre-budget Consultations, November 2004

Source:
Canadian Union of Public Employees

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Presentation to the Finance Committee Pre-Budget Consultation
November 2004
Sherri Torjman, Ken Battle and Michael Mendelson
"This paper (...) discusses several key principles to help guide the spending of the federal surplus: transparency, balance and purpose. The paper proposes that the surplus not be directed towards debt reduction but rather towards a combination of program and tax reduction measures. With respect to program expenditure, the authors have identified three top priorities from a wide range of proposals they have put forward over the years: child benefits, early childhood care and learning, and community supports for persons with disabilities and the aging population. Possible tax reductions related to employment and education would be directed towards low- and modest-income households. "

Presentation (PDF file - 56K, 13 pages)

Source:
Caledon Institute of Social Policy

Links to other Canadian government budget sites: Government Budgets - latest budgets from all Canadian governments + Australia, New Zealand, the U.K. and the U.S. Source: Dept. of Finance website

Related Canadian Social Research Links pages:

Go to Canadian Government Budgets 2010
Go to Canadian Government Budgets 2009
Go to Canadian Government Budgets 2008
Go to Canadian Government Budgets 2007
Go to Canadian Government Budgets 2006
Go to Canadian Government Budgets 2005
Go to Canadian Government Budgets 2004