Federal Government

At 3:19pm on Friday afternoon ("Maybe no one will notice, eh?"), Finance Canada sent out an email announcing a consultation on "draft legislative proposals to implement tax measures from Budget 2010 along with several previously announced tax initiatives."
The consultation ends September 27.

August 27, 2010
Government of Canada Releases Consultation Draft of Legislative Tax Proposals

Related document:

* The Fiscal Monitor, June 2010

[ earlier editions of The Fiscal Monitor - going back to 1996 ]

Source:
Department of Finance Canada

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

Canada’s Fiscal Edge to Fade Without Tough Action: David Dodge
Commentary by David Dodge
May 25, 2010
The problems facing Greece, Spain and Ireland may lead investors to think Canada is free from fiscal worries. They should think again when looking ahead for the next few years. Canada’s relatively sound position by international standards masks a structural deficit that is poised to resume growth later this decade unless governments find more permanent solutions to cutting expenses than in their latest budgets, and introduce new measures to durably boost revenue.
(...)
Can Canadian governments balance their budgets by mid- decade with program spending cuts alone? It would mean a significant reduction in services or income-support programs, even if there were unprecedented productivity gains in public services. Specifically, it would require significant cuts in public-pension payments, employment-insurance benefits and welfare payments, health and long-term care coverage as well as increased co-payments. The quality of education, and investment in roads and public transit also would decline. [bolding added]
[Author David Dodge David Dodge is former Deputy Minister of the federal departments of Finance* and Health, and the former governor of the Bank of Canada.]
(*...thus proving that you can take David Dodge out of Finance but you can't take Finance out of David Dodge. Gilles)
Source:
Bloomberg
Bloomberg is a New York-based company employing more than 10,000 people in over 135 offices around the world. Bloomberg is about information: accessing it, reporting it, analyzing it and distributing it, faster and more accurately than any other organization.

Rebuttal by John Stapleton (June 11)

Canada's Fiscal Future:
What to make of former Bank of Canada
governor David Dodge's predictions on Canada's economy?
By John Stapleton
June 11, 2010
(...) In a recent piece called Canada’s Fiscal Edge to Fade Without Tough Action, former Bank of Canada governor David Dodge set out his predictions respecting the economic troubles that Canada faces in the next decade unless the country can get its fiscal house in order. Dodge does not believe that spending cuts alone will be sufficient to stem the tide of red ink despite recent GDP growth, and he calls for more consumption taxes in order to balance the books in the future. Yet in his assessment of the spending cuts that will be required, he notes that "cuts would need to be both continuing and more radical than those of the mid-1990s."
Source:
The Mark
The Mark is a national movement to record Canadian ideas and propel the people behind them. It is a collection of thoughts and a tool for facilitating interdisciplinary dialogue and debate between outstanding Canadians.

Open Policy - John Stapleton's website

NOTE REGARDING LINKS TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WEBSITE CONTENT
(February 6, 2009)
Federal government websites are presently being updated to implement the
"Common Look and Feel Standards for the Internet (CLF 2.0)."
You'll find many broken links on this site to content (reports, news releases, etc.) from federal govt. sites.
Until I can update the federal content links on this site, please use the search engine of the relevant department or Google.ca's search engine to find the new location of the content .
[ more info on "CLF 2.0" (Actually, it's more rant than info...) ]

---

How to find "old" content
that's been deleted from federal government websites:
If you click on a link to a report on a federal government website and the next page is an error page, use your browser's Back button to return to the page where you clicked the broken link. Then, select (highlight) the title of the report and use Google.ca or the departmental search engine (if one is provided on the error page). If your search is unsuccessful, you can send an email message to the "Contact Us" link for the Department to request an electronic version of the report, or you can use the federal government's own web archive (the link immediately below) to peruse old versions of its websites where you can still find that old content, although the archive does have its limitations, including the fact that it goes back only to the end of 2005. As a complement to the federal website archive, I recommend The Wayback Machine, whose link also appears below. It's a broader Internet archiving initiative where you can find links to old federal govt. website content going back to 1996, but it's also a hit-and-miss affair, from my experience.

Government of Canada Web Archive
Since the Fall of 2007, Library and Archives Canada has been harvesting the web domain of the Federal Government of Canada (starting in December 2005).Client access to the content of the Government of Canada Web Archive is provided through searching by keyword, by department name, and by URL. At the time of its launch in Fall 2007, approximately 100 million digital objects (over 4 terabytes) of archived Federal Government website data were made accessible via the LAC website. The GC WA currently contains over 170 million digital objects and more than 7 terabytes of data.
Source:
Library and Archives Canada

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The Wayback Machine
Located in San Francisco, the Internet Archive ("Wayback Machine") was founded in 1996 as a non-profit that to build an Internet library, with the purpose of offering permanent access for researchers, historians, and scholars to historical collections that exist in digital format.
- direct link to the search box and the links collections

* How The Wayback Machine can help you beat 404 fury
- a practical example using a Govt. of Ontario report that had disappeared from the provincial govt. website

Federal Government Departments and Agencies involved with social programs

This file was getting too large, so I created two smaller files by arbitrarily splitting the original page into two. The complete list of federal departments involved with social programs (a personal selection...) appears below, but you'll have to click over to the other page to see content from departments whose names don't have a blue hyperlink.

All of the links in this box will take you further down this page. You can select a department by clicking on its name below, or you can scroll down the page to see all of them.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Auditor-General's Office - Canada Border Services Agency - Canada Revenue Agency - Canadian Transportation Agency - Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation - Canadian Heritage - Canadian International Development Agency - Citizenship and Immigration Canada - Canada International - Environment Canada - Finance Canada

- Go to the second page of federal government department links for these departments:
- Fisheries and Oceans - Foreign Affairs and International Trade - Parliamentary Internet (House of Commons, Senate) - Indian and Northern Affairs Canada - Industry Canada - Justice - National Crime Prevention Centre - Prime Minister's Office - Privy Council Office- Statistics Canada - Status of Women - Supreme Court - Treasury Board Secretariat -Veterans Affairs Canada

- Go to Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) Links --- separate page

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) provides information, research and technology, and policies and programs to achieve security of the food system, health of the environment and innovation for growth.

Canada's Fifth Progress Report on Food Security:
In Response to the World Food Summit Plan of Action
Complete report (PDF - 117K, 30 pages)
Executive Summary

Reports and Publications
- incl. links to : Latest Audit Reports - Reports to Parliament - Reports to Northern Legislative Assemblies - Other Audits - Audit Methodology

Media Centre
- incl. links to : News Releases - Media Statements - Statements to House of Commons Committees - Statements to Senate Committees - Statements to Territorial Legislative Assembly Committees - Speeches

2010 Spring Report of the Auditor General of Canada
April 20, 2010
Click the link above to access the following chapters:
* Message from the Auditor General—Spring 2010
* Chapter 1—Aging Information Technology Systems
* Chapter 2—Modernizing Human Resource Management
* Chapter 3—Rehabilitating the Parliament Buildings
* Chapter 4—Sustaining Development in the Northwest Territories
* Chapter 5—Scientific Research—Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
* Chapter 6—Special Examinations of Crown Corporations—2009
* Electronic Health Records in Canada—An Overview of Federal and Provincial Audit Reports
Appendix—Report on the audit of the President of the Treasury Board’s report, Tabling of Crown Corporations’ Reports to Parliament

News Releases
Click the link above to access the following news releases, all dated April 20
* More federal action needed to sustain balanced development in NWT
* Government not doing enough to address the aging of IT systems
* Governance arrangements limit progress on rehabilitating the Parliament buildings
* Key legislative changes to human resource management are in place but impacts are still unclear
* Federal and provincial auditors present report on electronic health records
* Auditor General’s Spring 2010 Report tabled in the House of Commons
* Agricultural research is not well managed by department
* Auditor General provides overview of special examinations of Crown corporations for 2009
* Advancing Sustainable Development—Discussion Paper by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development
* Human Resource Capacity—Government of Nunavut—Departments face long-term challenges to fill their human resource needs

2009 November Report of the Auditor General of Canada
Table of contents:
* Matters of Special Importance—2009 <=== click for main points from all chapters
This Report addresses a wide range of issues typical of the challenges facing government today:
* coordinating appropriate responses to emergencies, such as pandemics and terrorist attacks;
* selecting foreign workers at a time when industrialized countries are competing to attract qualified labour;
* providing effective international aid;
* supporting the transition to electronic health records;
* increasing First Nations’ control over land management as a critical component of their future well-being;
* buying military vehicles to protect our troops in Afghanistan from improvised explosive devices;
* ensuring that income tax legislation is clear and up to date; and
* knowing whether government programs are achieving their intended results or need to be adjusted.
* Chapter 1—Evaluating the Effectiveness of Programs
* Chapter 2—Selecting Foreign Workers Under the Immigration Program
* Chapter 3—Income Tax Legislation
* Chapter 4—Electronic Health Records
* Chapter 5—Acquiring Military Vehicles for Use in Afghanistan
* Chapter 6—Land Management and Environmental Protection on Reserves
* Chapter 7—Emergency Management—Public Safety Canada
* Chapter 8—Strengthening Aid Effectiveness—Canadian International Development Agency
Appendices
* Appendix A—Auditor General Act
* Appendix B—Reports of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts to the House of Commons, 2008–09
* Appendix C—Report on the audit of the President of the Treasury Board's report Tabling of Crown Corporations Reports in Parliament
* Appendix D—Costs of Crown corporation audits conducted by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada
Source:
Office of the Auditor General of Canada

2008 December Report of the Auditor General of Canada
February 5, 2009
* Matters of Special Importance—2008
* Chapter 1—A Study of Federal Transfers to Provinces and Territories (See below*)
* Chapter 2—Governance of Small Federal Entities
* Chapter 3—Contracting for Professional Services—Public Works and Government Services Canada
* Chapter 4—Managing Risks to Canada's Plant Resources—Canadian Food Inspection Agency
* Chapter 5—Managing Information Technology Investments—Canada Revenue Agency
* Chapter 6—Use of New Human Resources Authorities—Canada Revenue Agency
* Chapter 7—Economy and Efficiency of Services—Correctional Service Canada
* Chapter 8—Reporting on Health Indicators—Health Canada (See below**)
Appendices
* Appendix A—Auditor General Act
* Appendix B—Reports of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts to the House of Commons, 2007–08
* Appendix C—Report on the audit of the President of the Treasury Board's report, Tabling of Crown Corporations Reports in Parliament
* Appendix D—Costs of Crown corporation audits conducted by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada

* Chapter 1:
A Study of Federal Transfers to the Provinces and Territories
December 2008
"(...) The federal government uses a number of mechanisms to transfer funds to the provinces and territories for general areas of spending such as health or for specific purposes such as improving infrastructure. In 2006–07, these federal transfers amounted to approximately $50 billion, or just under 23 percent of federal spending. Our study examined the three main mechanisms used by the federal government to transfer funds to the provinces and territories. We also looked at the nature and extent of conditions attached to these transfers."

News Release:
Auditor General’s study sheds light on how
the federal government transfers funds to provinces and territories
(Chapter 1—A Study of Federal Transfers to the Provinces and Territories - December 2008 Report of the Auditor General)
February 5, 2009
Auditor General Sheila Fraser’s Report, tabled today in the House of Commons, contains a study [see the link immediately below] of the three main mechanisms used by the federal government to transfer funds to the provinces and territories. In 2006–07, these transfers amounted to about $50 billion, just under 23 percent of federal spending. They are major sources of funds for services provided to Canadians in areas such as health and post-secondary education.

**Chapter 8:
Reporting on Health Indicators—Health Canada
In 2000, the Government of Canada and provincial and territorial governments reached an historic agreement on health that set out a vision, principles, and an action plan for health system renewal. The First Ministers' commitments on health also called for improvements in accountability and reporting to Canadians and directed federal, provincial, and territorial health ministers to develop indicators that could be compared across jurisdictions and over time to measure progress on renewal. All jurisdictions later committed to public reporting every two years on a number of health indicators—for example, wait times and patient satisfaction with health services. First Ministers' agreements in 2003 and 2004 further reiterated reporting requirements.

News Release:
Report on health indicators is of limited value to Canadians
(Chapter 8—Reporting on Health Indicators—Health Canada - December 2008 Report of the Auditor General)
February 5, 2009
Health Canada has published health indicator reports as a result of commitments made by First Ministers in 2000, 2003, and 2004, says the Auditor General of Canada, Sheila Fraser, in her Report tabled today in the House of Commons. However, these reports do not meet the broader intent of providing Canadians with information on the progress of health care renewal.

AG says that feds hand out big bucks with no control
February 5, 2009
Ottawa has little control over billions of dollars in federal finances which are regularly transferred to the provinces for specialized programs like housing and transportation, Canada's auditor general said. Sheila Fraser's latest report to Parliament, released Thursday, states that Ottawa uses trusts to funnel money to the provinces, but once the money is sent, the provinces are free to spend it as they see fit.
- incl. links to four related articles.
Source:
CTV News

2008 May Report of the Auditor General of Canada
May 6, 2008
The latest Report of the Auditor General of Canada was tabled in the House of Commons today.
[NOTE: click the link above to access all of the chapters below; only the intro and chapter 4 (+ news release) are hyperlinked below.]
* A Message from the Auditor General of Canada
* Chapter 1—Management of Fees in Selected Departments and Agencies
* Chapter 2—Support for Overseas Deployments—National Defence
* Chapter 3—Oversight of Air Transportation Safety—Transport Canada
* Chapter 4—First Nations Child and Family Services Program—Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
* Chapter 5—Surveillance of Infectious Diseases—Public Health Agency of Canada
* Chapter 6—Conservation of Federal Official Residences
* Chapter 7—Detention and Removal of Individuals—Canada Border Services Agency
* Chapter 8—Special Examinations of Crown Corporations—An Overview

October 2007 Report of the Auditor General of Canada
Matters of Special Importance
Chapter 1 — Safeguarding Government Information and Assets in Contracting
Chapter 2 — Management and Control Practices in Three Small Entities
Chapter 3 — Inuvialuit Final Agreement
Chapter 4 — Military Health Care—National Defence
Chapter 5 — Keeping the Border Open and Secure—Canada Border Services Agency
Chapter 6 — Management of the 2006 Census—Statistics Canada
Chapter 7 — Technical Training and Learning—Canada Revenue Agency
NOTE: on the same page as the October 2007 report, you'll also find links to AGO reports released in May and February 2007.

May 2007 Report of the Auditor General of Canada
NOTE: Below you'll find the titles of all seven chapters, but I've only provided links to chapter 2;
click on the link above for links to all chapters and their corresponding news releases in HTML and PDF format.
- also includes links to the February 2007 Auditor-General's Status Report

Chapter 1. Use of Acquisition and Travel Cards
Chapter 2. Federal Loans and Grants for Post-Secondary Education—Human Resources and Social Development Canada and Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation
(Excerpts)
"The federal government has said that Canada's international competitiveness depends on having an educated and skilled labour force. To improve access to higher education is the main objective of both the Canada Student Loans Program and the Foundation. To this end, HRSDC loaned $1.9 billion to some 350,000 post-secondary students in 2005–06 and awarded 78,500 grants amounting to about $129 million. In 2006 the Foundation awarded about $298 million in Millennium Bursaries to some 100,000 students and over $40 million in Access Bursaries to more than 20,000 students. "
"Financial assistance programs for post-secondary students are managed well"
Chapter 3. Human Resources Management—Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
Chapter 4. Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization—Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Chapter 5. Managing the Delivery of Legal Services to Government—Department of Justice Canada
Chapter 6. Modernizing the NORAD System in Canada—National Defence
Chapter 7. Management of Forensic Laboratory Services—Royal Canadian Mounted Police

2006 November Report of the Auditor General of Canada
Matters of Special Importance—2006
An Overview of the Federal Government's Expenditure Management System
Chapter 1—Expenditure Management System at the Government Centre
Chapter 2—Expenditure Management System in Departments
Chapter 3—Large Information Technology Projects
Chapter 4—Proper Conduct of Public Business—Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Agencies
Chapter 5—Relocating Members of the Canadian Forces, RCMP, and Federal Public Service
Chapter 6 : Old Age Security - Human Resources and Social Development Canada and Service Canada
"(...)Human Resources and Social Development Canada and Service Canada have improved seniors' access to program benefits by simplifying the application process and by implementing initiatives to increase the take-up of GIS. However, the organizations lack adequate information on these and other aspects of their service to clients, and do not give Parliament a complete picture of program performance.
Chapter 7—Federal Participation in the British Columbia Treaty Process—Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Chapter 8—Allocating Funds to Regulatory Programs—Health Canada
Chapter 9—Pension and Insurance Administration—Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Chapter 10—Award and Management of a Health Benefits Contract—Public Works and Government Services Canada and Health Canada
Chapter 11—Protection of Public Assets—Office of the Correctional Investigator
Chapter 12—Role of Federally Appointed Board Members—Sustainable Development Technology Canada

2006 Report of the Auditor General of Canada - May 2006
- go to the link above to download small PDF files for each of the following chapters
NOTE: because of the social program focus of Canadian Social Research Links, the only chapter that's hyperlinked below is Chapter 5, because it deals with First Nations, which is one of the thematic pages of this site
A Message from the Auditor General of Canada
Chapter 1 — Managing Government: Financial Information
Chapter 2 — National Defence—Military Recruiting and Retention
Chapter 3 — National Defence—NATO Flying Training in Canada
Chapter 4 — Canadian Firearms Program
Chapter 5 — Management of Programs for First Nations
Chapter 6 — Management of Voted Grants and Contributions
Chapter 7 — Acquisition of Leased Office Space
Chapter 8 — Canada Revenue Agency—Collection of Tax Debts
Government Decisions Limited Parliament's Control of Public Spending

HOME PAGE
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) ensures the security and prosperity of Canada by managing the access of people and goods to and from Canada.

Different rules apply depending on whether someone wishes to come to Canada as an immigrant (i.e., permanently), a visitor, a worker (temporarily), a student or a refugee.
Select a link below for more information on eligibility and benefit levels for each program.

Immigrate
If you want to immigrate to Canada, there are a few different ways to apply. You will need to decide which immigration program will work best for you and your family.

Visit
Every year, more than 5million people visit Canada. Depending on where you live, and the reason for your visit, you will need to meet certain entry requirements. In some cases, if you plan to stay in Canada for a certain period of time, you will need a Temporary Resident Visa.

Work temporarily
Every year, over 90,000 foreign workers enter Canada to work temporarily in jobs that help Canadian employers address skill shortages, or as live-in caregivers.
A work permit is needed for most temporary jobs in Canada, though for some positions and business people it is not necessary.

Study
More than 130,000 students come to study in Canada every year and even more come to Canada to learn English or French.

Refugees
Refugees and people needing protection are people in or outside Canada who fear returning to their home country. Groups and individuals can sponsor refugees from abroad who qualify to come to Canada.

Income Statistics and GST/HST Statistics
*The annual Income Statistics reports use tables of data to create a profile of Canadian taxpayers.
- incl. links to : * Final Statistics - Sample Data * Interim Statistics - Universe Data * Locality code statistics.
* The annual Compendium of GST/HST Statistics provides detailed profiles of goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) registrants.

Child and Family Benefits Page
- Information about the Canada Child Tax Benefit and the National Child Benefit.
- Also includes information concerning related provincial and territorial programs administered by the Canada Revenue Agency: Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit - BC Family Bonus - New Brunswick Child Tax Benefit - Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit - Northwest Territories Child Benefit - Nova Scotia Child Benefit - Nunavut Child Benefit - Saskatchewan Child Benefit - Yukon Child Benefit.
- From the website of the Canada Revenue Agency - formerly Revenue Canada

Child and Family Benefits Calculator
Calculate how much your family is entitled to receive under the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) and related provincial/territorial programs

People with disabilities
"...easy access to publications and forms dealing with tax credits, benefits, and services for people with disabilities"

Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB)
The Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB) is a refundable tax credit intended to provide tax relief for eligible working low-income individuals and families who are already in the workforce and to encourage other Canadians to enter the workforce.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation is Canada’s national housing agency. Established as a government-owned corporation in 1946 to address Canada’s post-war housing shortage, the agency has grown into a major national institution. CMHC is Canada’s premier provider of mortgage loan insurance, mortgage-backed securities, housing policy and programs, and housing research

CMHC for Consumers --- incl. links to : Buying a Home * Mortgage Loan Insurance * Renting a Home * Maintaining a Home * Renovating a Home * Programs & Financial Assistance (residential rehabilitation, emergency repair, home adaptation for seniors, etc.)

CMHC for Housing Industry Professionals and Community Groups --- CMHC contributes to the well-being of the housing sector by offering : Best practices in housing construction and design * Housing market trends and demographics * A wide variety of programs & financial assistance * Affordable housing strategies.

CMHC for Housing Finance Clients and International Clients --- CMHC is your proven business partner and strives to provide our housing finance clients with : Innovative mortgage loan insurance products & services * Effective default management and claims payment * Offering housing solutions to help countries around the world build better housing systems * Assisting Canadian companies to export goods and services.

Aboriginal --- Browse by Topic : On-Reserve, Off-Reserve and Northern Housing

CMHC Research Report Listings by Subject
- links to PDF files consisting of collections of reports that you can order from CMHC organized by subject, including Affordable Housing - Cooperative Housing - Healthy Housing - Homeless - Housing and Women - Housing for Older Canadians - Housing for Persons with Disabilities - Housing Rehabilitation - Self-Help Housing - Social Housing - more...

National Rental Vacancy Rate Decreases in 2008
News Release
OTTAWA, December 11, 2008 — The average rental apartment vacancy rate in Canada's 34 major centres decreased to 2.2 per cent in October 2008 from 2.6 per cent in October 2007, according to the Rental Market Survey released today by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Note: Scroll halfway down the above news release for links to the following 2008 CMHC rental market reports:
1. Rental Market Reports — Major Centres (incl. more coverage of the secondary rental market in selected centres)
2. Rental Market Report — Provincial Highlights — summary of rental market statistics for urban centres with a population of over 10,000 in each province and two of the three territories
3. Rental Market Report — Canada Highlights — at-a-glance rental market information for Canada's 34 major centres
4. Rental Market Statistics Report — a sourcebook of statistical tables with national, provincial and local rental housing market data.
- the news release also contains tables of vacancy rates, availability rates and rents.

Rental Market Survey 2008 (PDF - 1.2MB, 11 pages)
NOTE: I can't provide a direct link to the rental market survey because the CMHC website is built using software that doesn't allow direct linking to reports.
To access the survey, go to Canadian Housing Statistics and click on CHS: Rental Market Survey (2nd report in the list).
- the rental market survey includes data for Major Centres / Provinces with detailed data for each market area. Tables contain data on availability rates, average rents or vacancies, by bedroom size (bachelor, one, two bedroom units, etc.) and by building type (i.e. row homes and apartments)

Canada's New Government Commits $526 Million
to Combat Homelessness and Extend Funding for Renovation Programs
December 19, 2006
Today, the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, announced $526 million for the new Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS), a strategy aimed at combating homelessness in communities across Canada and extending CMHC's renovation programs. The new Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) will be funded at $270 million over two years.

NOTE: for links to more info on affordable housing and homelessness, see the Canadian Social Research Links Homelessness and Housing page.

Canadian Heritage
"The Canadian Heritage Portfolio, which includes the Department of Canadian Heritage and our major national cultural institutions, plays a vital role in the cultural and civic life of Canadians. We work together to promote culture, the arts, heritage, official languages, citizenship and participation, and Aboriginal, youth, and sport initiatives."
- incl. links to : A to Z Index - Arts and Culture - Citizenship and Identity - Diversity and Multiculturalism - International - Sport - Youth - The Department - About us - What's new - Application Forms - Funding Programs - Legislation - Organizational View - Publications - Regional Offices - Agencies and Corporations

Human Rights Program
- incl. links to : * Did You Know? * Links * Themes and Tributes * Funding Program * Publications and Documents * Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms * Human Rights in Canada * International Human Rights
- Links to other Human Rights websites

Canada and International Human Rights : Main Menu
- incl. links to:
* Canada and the International Human Rights System: An Introduction * Multilateral human rights treaties to which Canada is a party * Canada's Reports on United Nations Conventions and Related Official Documents * Complaints to international organizations * Decisions of international bodies * Glossary of UN Terms * Universal Periodic Review

In addition to supporting the principles enunciated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
Canada has ratified the six United Nations human rights treaties and submitted reports on the implementation of each of these treaties.

Core Document to accompany all of Canada's Reports.
Basic reference document on Canada's political system for use by United Nations Human Rights Committees reviewing Canada's reports.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) - Accession by Canada in May 1976.Text of the Covenant, the first optional protocol and the views of the UN Committee on the merit of communications against Canada, Canada's most recent reports and the UN Committee conclusions on these reports.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Ratified by Canada in December 1991. Text of the Convention, the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (ratified by Canada in July 2000), and the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (ratified by Canada in September 2005), Canada's reports and the UN Committee conclusions on these reports.

Aboriginal Peoples' Program
The Aboriginal Peoples' Program (APP) supports the full participation and cultural revitalization of Aboriginal People in Canadian society. It enables Aboriginal Peoples to address the social, cultural, economic and political issues affecting their lives.
[ Aboriginal Programs, Policy, and Research ]

HOME PAGE
CIDA’s aim is to reduce poverty, promote human rights, and increase sustainable development. CIDA was established in 1968 to administer the bulk of Canada’s official development assistance (ODA) program. The measure of its success lies in its contribution to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Canada’s broader international policy objectives.

Publications - Browse this list for dozens of key CIC publications, from policy manuals and operating memoranda, to legislation and information pamphlets

The Canadian Immigration System: An Overview (PDF file - 283K, 21 pages)
March 2007
Workshop on German and European Migration and Immigration Policy from
a Transatlantic Perspective : Challenge for the 21st Century
By Geneviève Bouchard
- Powerpoint presentation, includes historical info, current situation, stats, policy challenges, potential solutions
Source:
Institute for Research on Public Policy

World Water Day - March 22
Water is a basic requirement for all life, yet water resources are facing increasing demands from, and competition among, users. In 1992, the UN General Assembly designated 22 March of each year as the World Day for Water.

The Story of Bottled Water
The Story of Bottled Water is an eight-minute animated video that throws a wrench in the bottled water industry’s spin machine. (...) Bottled water companies have worked hard to undermine confidence in public water systems. But the tide is turning, as a growing number of Canadian municipalities, campuses, school boards and other public institutions are rejecting bottled water in favour of the tap. Watch the video, share it with your friends, and take a pledge to make your home, workplace and community bottled-water free.

Structure and Role of the Department

Transfers to Provinces and Territories

Since April 2004, federal transfer payments to provinces and territories for health services are made under the Canada Health Transfer, while those for post-secondary education and social assistance and services are made under the Canada Social Transfer.

For information about : Federal Transfers to Provinces and Territories - Canada Health Transfer - Canada Social Transfer - Equalization - Federal Support for Early Childhood Development Early Learning and Childcare - much more, go to the Canadian Social Research Links Canada Assistance Plan/Canada Health and Social Transfer /Canada Social Transfer Resources page.

Selected Finance Canada site content:
(in reverse chronological order)

Minister of Finance Moves to Enhance Protection for Private Pension Plan Members
News Release
May 3, 2010
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today proposed changes to federally regulated private pension plans that will enhance protection for plan members, reduce funding volatility and modernize the rules for investments by pension funds.

The accompanying explanatory notes provide additional details regarding the proposed legislative amendments.
Interested stakeholders have until May 31, 2010, to submit comments on the proposed amendments.

Government of Canada Support to Provinces and Territories at an All-Time High
December 18, 2009
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, announced today that total transfers to provinces and territories will increase by $2.4 billion in 2010-11, bringing total federal support to $54.4 billion, the highest level ever. “Our Government is pleased to be providing unprecedented and growing federal transfer support that will help to provide the services, programs and assistance that Canadians rely upon, particularly in these difficult economic times,” said Minister Flaherty. “Transfers in support of health care and social services are a top priority for our Government as we transition our economy through the current challenging economic times.” Equalization payments to provinces for 2010-11 will total $14.4 billion, an increase of $187 million. The overall program is growing in line with the economy, with provincial amounts reflecting changes in the ability of provinces to raise revenues.
- includes a table showing Transfer Payments to Provinces and Territories for 2009-2010 and 2010-11.
Source:
Department of Finance Canada

Federal Transfers to Provinces and Territories
There are four main transfer programs: the Canada Health Transfer (CHT), the Canada Social Transfer (CST), Equalization and Territorial Formula Financing (TFF).

Government of Canada Launches Consultations on the Second Phase of Canada's Economic Action Plan
Québec City, December 11, 2009
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today launched national consultations in Québec City to give Canadians the opportunity to voice their views on how to best lead Canada to full economic recovery as the Government prepares its 2010 budget – the second phase of Canada's Economic Action Plan. Consultations in other cities will be announced later in December and January. (...)
The Government will be seeking responses from Canadians on a number of questions, including:
* To what extent has Canada's Economic Action Plan been effective in stimulating activity in their industry, sector or community?
* What suggestions do they have for improving the effectiveness of the Government's stimulus measures or the speed of their delivery?
* What steps should the Government take to improve the competitiveness of the Canadian economy and ensure that Canada continues to attract investment and create jobs once the recovery is achieved and the Economic Action Plan is wound down?
* Over what time period should the Government bring the budget back into balance?

Consuting with Canadians website
The Government is asking Canadians for their views on these issues as well as any other ideas they care to submit.

Canada's Economic Action Plan: A Fourth Report to Canadians
December 2, 2009
The Fourth Report to Canadians shows that 97 per cent of stimulus funding in Canada's Economic Action Plan has been committed to more than 12,000 infrastructure and housing projects. About 8,000 or 66 per cent of these projects have already begun in the 10 months since the two-year plan was launched.
[ News Release ]
[ Backgrounder ]
[ Speech on the release of the report - Winnipeg, Manitoba ]

Government of Canada Moves to Implement
Home Renovation Tax Credit and Other Outstanding Measures
September 14, 2009
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today tabled in the House of Commons a detailed Notice of Ways and Means Motion to implement the Home Renovation Tax Credit as well as other measures, several of which are outstanding from Budget 2009. (...)
In addition to the Home Renovation Tax Credit, the Motion:
* Implements the First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit.
* Enhances the benefits provided under the Working Income Tax Benefit.
* Extends the existing tax deferral available to farmers in prescribed drought regions to farmers who dispose of breeding livestock because of flood or excessive moisture, and describes the regions prescribed either as eligible flood or drought regions from 2007 to 2009.
* Amends the Customs Tariff to relax the conditions relating to temporarily imported shipping containers.
Related Documents:
* Notice of Ways and Means Motion to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on January 27, 2009 and to implement other measures
* Explanatory Notes to Legislative Proposals Relating to Income Tax

Finance Ministers Indicate Canada Pension Plan is Financially Sound
May 25, 2009
Federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Finance, as joint stewards of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), today announced the results of the program's triennial review at the close of their annual spring meetings at Meech Lake. The review confirms that the CPP, a key pillar of Canada's retirement income system, remains on a sound financial footing. "The CPP is well positioned to weather the current market turbulence," said the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance. "Canadians can count on an affordable CPP today and for the future." The CPP provides over 3.6 million retired Canadians with benefits of up to $909 per month.

Information Paper: Proposed Changes
to the Canada Pension Plan
Proposed by Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers of Finance
Ottawa, May 25, 2009
(...) The proposed changes will provide greater flexibility for older workers to combine pension and work income if they so wish; modestly expand pension coverage; and improve fairness in the Plan’s flexible retirement provisions.
(...) The proposed changes will begin to come into force in 2011 following approval by the Parliament of Canada and provincial governments.

< COMMENT:
I think it's wonderful that one of the proposed changes to CPP will allow people to continue working while receiving their CPP benefits. But the economic downturn is happening NOW, not in 2011, when the CPP changes will "begin" to come into force. Any change to the CPP requires the support of two-thirds of the provinces and territories, so if all Canadian ministers of Finance support the changes, they can fast-track the process of changing the CPP much more expeditiously.
... and I don't think that most of them *wish* to keep combining pension and work income, by the way --- they have to.>

Consultation on pensions in Canada
"Strengthening the Legislative and Regulatory Framework for Private Pension Plans
Subject to the Pension Benefit Standards Act, 1985"
- launched January 2009
- closing date for input: May 31, 2009
- incl. links to two consultation documents from the Department of Finance

Responses/Submissions from the public
- links to dozens of responses (to the consultations documents) submitted to the consultation
by union representatives, pension plan representatives and employer pension representatives.

$7M bonus as CPP loses $24B
May 29, 2009
OTTAWA–Four top executives of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board pocketed nearly $7 million in bonuses this year despite losing $24 billion of taxpayers' money in bad investments, according to the board's annual report released yesterday.

Patchy pensions leave too many exposed
May 27, 2009
By Carol Goar
(...) Today, Canada has a half-built pension system. It serves a fortunate minority relatively well, but leaves many workers facing a bleak retirement. No one is utterly destitute. All seniors are entitled to a monthly old age security payment. And those who belonged to the workforce receive a Canada Pension Plan. But these public programs are designed to provide a modest base on which to build a private retirement income. And millions of workers simply can't. The lucky ones – 38.5 per cent of working Canadians – have a company pension. But their luck is running out...
[ more columns by Carol Goar ]
Source:
Toronto Star

Government Implements Pension Measures
News Release
March 27 2009
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today released regulations to provide temporary solvency funding relief for federally regulated defined benefit pension plans. The measures cover plans established for employees working in areas that fall under federal jurisdiction. These plans currently represent 7 per cent of all private pension plans in Canada, accounting for approximately 12 per cent of pension assets.
Related documents:
* Solvency Funding Relief Regulations
* Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement
(Click the above news release link to access these documents)

Canadians Can Track Progress of Economic Action Plan
Website helps hold governments and parliamentarians accountable
News Release
Ottawa, March 11, 2009
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance today unveiled ActionPlan.gc.ca, a comprehensive new Government of Canada website that will allow Canadians to hold governments and public officials accountable for action on the economy. (...) ActionPlan.gc.ca includes details of Canada's Economic Action Plan, with links to specifics of initiatives and projects as they are announced. It also explains the roots of the global financial crisis and Canada's relative performance. The website will help Canadians to assess how well parliamentarians, provincial and territorial governments, businesses and others are contributing to positive action on the economy. The website will be updated regularly.

ActionPlan.gc.ca
- incl. links to:
* THE CHALLENGE * WHAT HAS BEEN DONE * THE PLAN * THE ROLLOUT * WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

Canada's Economic Action Plan:
First Quarterly Report
News Release
March 10, 2009
Today the Harper Government released its first quarterly report on the progress of Canada’s Economic Action Plan – the Government’s broad and aggressive response to the global recession

Complete report
Foreword
Report in Brief
Chapter 1: Canada's Economic Action Plan
Chapter 2: Accountability Framework
Chapter 3: Working With Domestic and International Partners
Chapter 4: Progress Achieved to Date
Chapter 5: Conclusion and Next Steps

March 11 2009
International Monetary Fund Supports Stimulus Measures in Canada's Economic Action Plan
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today welcomed an International Monetary Fund (IMF) statement of support for the fiscal stimulus in Canada's Economic Action Plan, which it called "large, timely and well-targeted." Noting the stimulus package is well above the Fund's benchmark of 2 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), the IMF statement said the immediate focus should be to implement the budget to mobilize spending.

Public pension consultations, March/April 2009:
Is this the beginning of the end of the "Cadillac" (indexed) pension for federal civil servants?

A real world solution for public pensions
By Mark Sutcliffe
March 7, 2009
"(...) What's good for the PS is good for Ottawa. But it's fair to ask whether a cherished benefit awarded to members of the public service should last forever. While the federal government begins looking at how to clean up the mess that has become of many private-sector pension funds, legislators at all levels may want to also consider this difficult question: Should we consider phasing out the defined-benefit, fully indexed pensions that are standard for government employees? (...) There's not much that can or should be done about existing public employees, who are contractually guaranteed their benefits. But could governments move toward establishing a defined-contribution plan, like those at most private-sector employers, for new public servants? Someday, should government workers carry as much of the burden for saving for their own retirement as everyone else? Thanks to union agreements, it won't be an easy process. But it's worth considering. Some may tremble at any element of uncertainty being introduced into public-sector pensions. Others would respond, welcome to the real world.
Source:
The Ottawa Citizen

Department of Finance Releases Schedule for Pension Consultations
News Release
March 4, 2009
The Department of Finance announced further details on the public consultations across Canada on the legislative and regulatory framework for federally regulated private pension plans, which are scheduled to begin March 13. The Government released a discussion paper [ PDF - 107K, 23 pages ] seeking views from Canadians on this issue on January 9. It followed up by announcing in Budget 2009: Canada's Economic Action Plan (January 27, 2009) that the national consultations will be chaired by Ted Menzies, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance.
- click the news release link above to access the scheduled dates and locations for the consultations.
- consultations will be held in : Ottawa (March 13) - Halifax (March 17) - Montréal (March 18) - Toronto (March 20) - Vancouver (April 14) - Whitehorse (April 15) - Edmonton (April 16) - Winnipeg (April 17)

The federal government regulates private pension plans that are subject to the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985. These plans cover areas of employment under federal jurisdiction, including banking, telecommunications and interprovincial transportation. These plans currently represent 7 per cent of all private pension plans in Canada, accounting for approximately 12 per cent of pension assets. Canadians who wish to attend these consultations or send submissions on the discussion paper are invited to submit an e-mail to this address: pensions@fin.gc.ca

Budget 2009: Canada’s Economic Action Plan
January 27, 2009
-----------------------
NOTE : all links to the 2009 federal Budget appear on
the 2009 Canadian Government Budgets Links page:
http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/budgets.htm

Tax Expenditures and Evaluations 2008 (PDF - 534K, 48 pages)
2008 (PDF file dated 12-08)
Tax Expenditures and Evaluations, is published on an annual basis. It provides estimates and projections for broadly defined tax expenditures as well as evaluations and descriptive papers addressing specific tax measures. This year’s edition includes an analytical paper entitled “Considerations in Setting Canada’s Corporate Income Tax Rate." [Excerpt from the Preface]
Source:
Government of Canada Tax Expenditures
Source of information for the analysis of the Canadian tax system. Provides information on the federal income tax system (corporate and personal) as well as the goods and services tax (GST).
- includes links to all editions of this report - including the 2008 report and one for each year going back to 1995 (but no link to a report for 1996).

January 2, 2009
Government helps Canadians maximize their savings with the new Tax-Free Savings Account
January 2, 2009
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of State (Agriculture), and Mr. Peter Aceto, President and CEO of ING DIRECT Canada, today welcomed the availability of the new Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) introduced by the Government of Canada in the 2008 Budget.

Tax-Free Savings Account (Govt. of Canada website)
- incl. links to : * Home * TFSA and you * TFSA calculator * TFSA vs RRSP * TFSA and the economy * TFSA and seniors * Income-tested benefits * Things to know * More information

December 31, 2008
Canada’s Government Provides Individuals, Families and Businesses Important New Tax Relief for 2009
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty today took the opportunity to inform Canadians of new tax relief measures that will benefit them in 2009.
(...)
The following measures come into effect in 2009:
* The introduction of the Tax-Free Savings Account, which will allow Canadians to set money aside in eligible investments and watch those savings grow tax-free throughout their lifetimes;
* The reduction of the general corporate income tax rate to 19 per cent from 19.5 per cent. Overall, the general corporate income tax rate is being reduced from 22.12 per cent (including the corporate surtax) in 2007 to 15 per cent by 2012;
* The extension of accelerated capital cost allowance treatment for three years for investment in manufacturing or processing machinery and equipment; and
* As part of the fifth Protocol to the Canada-U.S. Tax Treaty, the reduction in the rate of withholding tax on interest payments from Canada to non-arm’s length U.S. lenders from 7 per cent to 4 per cent. The withholding tax on non-arm’s-length interest paid between Canada and the United States will be completely eliminated as of 2010.

Federal Budget 2009 Consultations PART DEUX*
December 11, 2008
"The following ideas have been proposed as ways of providing stimulus in Budget 2009. Please rank them according to the priority they should have in the Government’s plan. If you’ve got another idea, rank that one as well. You will have the opportunity to spell out your ideas on the next screen."
Here are the six ideas you are asked to rank:
* Expedite Infrastructure Spending
* Invest in Housing
* Build strong sustainable labour markets and training incentives
* Support traditional and emerging industrial sectors
* Improve Access to Credit
* Your Idea: If you believe Budget 2009 should have a different stimulus priority, assign a ranking to this box. You will be able to explain this priority on the next screen

Hey, Finance Canada website team --- here's a tip to make it easier for ordinary Canadians to participate in your pre-budget consultations:
QUIT CHANGING THE FRIKKIN' URL FOR THE CONSULTATIONS PAGE!!

On December 11, when Finance Canada launched its pre-budget consultation, the link was called:
Online Pre-Budget Consultations for Budget 2009
(I copied the link name and URL directly from the Finance Canada website)
Today (December 19), I received a friendly email from a visitor to my site to inform me that "my" link to the federal pre-budget consultation website was broken.
I clicked the link to see for myself (as you can, by clicking the link above) --- the click took me to a Finance Canada error page with two options : the Finance Dept. website search engine and the sitemap of the departmental website .
I selected the Finance Canada search engine option, entered "2009 budget consultation" in the search box and hit "Search Now". On the results page, I had to scroll down to the 14th link to find the "Fiscal Stimulus" presentation, and there was no other link (among the "best 63 results") to the 2009 budget consultation. PLEASE Fix your search engine so that it returns relevant results.
The sitemap of Finance Canada's website is the second option offered on the error page, and it's about as useful as the search engine. It offers links to federal budgets for 2005 to 2008 - not one word about the 2009 budget consultations.

Bottom Line:
If you *must* change your URLs after you've sent out emails to everyone on your list (which is not very swift in the first place), don't give people two options that are equally useless. Either TEST the options to ensure that they lead visitors to the correct information, or just tell people in your error message that they should start from the home page of the departmental website, where there is a clear link to the 2009 budget consultation page.

Government of Canada Releases Explanatory Notes for Tax Improvements Tabled on November 28, 2008
December 4, 2008
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today released explanatory notes for the provisions included in the detailed Notice of Ways and Means Motion that was tabled on November 28, 2008. The Motion includes a number of tax initiatives outstanding from the 2008 budget as well as other tax changes, most of which were released in July 2008 in draft form for consultation (see News Release 2008-054). As proposed in the 2008 Economic and Fiscal Statement, the Motion also includes provisions to reduce by 25 per cent the minimum amount that an individual must withdraw from his or her Registered Retirement Income Fund in 2008. Under these provisions, if more than the new reduced minimum amount has already been withdrawn, the excess (up to the original minimum amount) can be re-contributed. Similar rules will apply to variable benefit money purchase Registered Pension Plans. The explanatory notes also include details of relieving refinements to the Department of Finance’s guidelines on the "normal growth" limits that apply to specified investment flow-through entities and partnerships.

Government of Canada Moves Quickly on Seniors’ Tax Relief and Other Outstanding Measures
News Release
November 28, 2008
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, acted today to implement the one-time tax relief for holders of Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs) that was announced in the Government’s 2008 Economic and Fiscal Statement. The measure, along with several initiatives outstanding from the 2008 budget and a number of other separately announced tax changes, is included in a Notice of Ways and Means Motion tabled today in the House of Commons.

Government of Canada Maintains Strong and Responsible Economic Leadership
News Release
November 27, 2008
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today announced in his 2008 Economic and Fiscal Statement that the Government will take actions to restrain spending, protect Canada’s hard-won fiscal advantage and reinforce the stability of our financial system amid this period of global economic uncertainty.

Economic and Fiscal Statement 2008
November 27, 2008
Overview
Complete report:
HTML - includes links to individual Chapters (1. Recent Economic Developments and Prospects - 2. Responsible Leadership: Actions to Strengthen Canada's Economic and Financial Fundamentals - 3. Fiscal Projections) and to Annexes (1. Canada's Total Government Fiscal Performance - 2. Draft Legislation and Explanatory Notes: Reduced 2008 Minimum Withdrawal Amount in respect of Registered Retirement Income Funds and Variable Benefits under a Registered Pension Plan)
PDF (2.2MB, 127 pages)

November 14, 2008
Government of Canada Holds Employment Insurance Premium Rate at Lowest Level in 15 Years
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, and the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, today welcomed the Canada Employment Insurance Commission’s decision to hold the Employment Insurance (EI) premium rate for 2009 unchanged at $1.73, its lowest level in 15 years.

Finance Ministers Discuss Progress in Implementing Advantage Canada
News Release
May 30, 2008
(...) Over the past two years, the Government has acted on Advantage Canada by:
* Reducing the federal debt by over $38 billion;
* Lowering taxes for Canadians in 2007–08 and the following five years by $200 billion;
* Cutting corporate income taxes so that Canada will have the lowest statutory tax rate in the Group of Seven (G7) by 2012 and the lowest overall tax rate on new business investment in the G7 by 2010;
* Restoring fiscal balance between the federal government and the provinces and territories;
* Enhancing infrastructure funding and placing it on a long-term footing with investments of $33 billion;
* Investing in education and training, including long-term support of post-secondary education and a modernized Canada Student Loans Program; and
* Streamlining Canada’s immigration system to better respond to the needs of the Canadian labour market.

Advantage Canada
(...) Advantage Canada is a strategic, long-term economic plan designed to improve our country’s economic prosperity both today and in the future.
Executive Summary
Complete report:
HTML version - table of contents and links to each section of the report
PDF version (996K, 82 pages)

Economic Statement 2007: Strong Leadership. A Better Canada
October 30, 2007
Table of contents:
* Overview * Speech * Introduction
* Chapters:
1. Recent Economic Developments and Prospects
2. Fiscal Projections
3. Broad-Based Tax Reductions for Canadians
Annex
Tax Measures: Supplementary Information and Notices of Ways and Means Motions
* Notices of Ways and Means Motions

Overview
"...bold new steps to build a better Canada:
* Reducing taxes further for Canadians, including a further reduction in the goods and services tax (GST).
* Establishing a new era of declining business taxation.
* Reducing the federal debt by $10 billion this year."

Government proposes $60B in tax cuts, with further GST drop
October 30, 2007
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has tabled a motion that calls for $60 billion in tax cuts over the next five years, including a further cut in the GST to five per cent, effective Jan. 1. News of the GST cut came in an economic statement delivered Tuesday afternoon by Flaherty. Normally, the statement contains little more than an update on the government's fiscal position. Not this time.
Source:
CBC

Canada’s New Government Introduces Draft Legislative
Proposals to Implement the Registered Disability Savings Plan
October 2, 2007
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, and the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today released draft legislative proposals to implement the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) announced in Budget 2007.
(...)
RDSPs are being introduced in response to the recommendations of the Minister of Finance’s Expert Panel on Financial Security for Children with Severe Disabilities, which tabled its report in December 2006.
(...)
Under the new measure, individuals who qualify for the disability tax credit, or their parents or other legal guardian, will be able to establish an RDSP. RDSPs will be eligible to receive payments of the new Canada Disability Savings Grants (CDSGs) and, for low- and modest-income beneficiaries, Canada Disability Savings Bonds (CDSBs).
(...)
Interested parties are invited to provide comments in writing on the draft legislative proposals. Comments can be sent jointly to the Tax Policy Branch, Department of Finance and the Office of Disability Issues, Human Resources and Social Development Canada at 140 O’Connor Street, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0G5 on or before October 23, 2007. Following this consultation period, the Government intends to introduce legislation, including regulations under the Canada Disability Savings Act, to implement the program as quickly as possible.

Canada’s New Government Continues to Reduce Taxes for All Canadians
October 2, 2007
"(...)Minister Flaherty today released draft legislation designed to implement tax measures proposed in Budget 2007 but not included in the Budget Implementation Act, 2007, which received Royal Assent on June 22, 2007. The legislation released today introduces a new Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB)...
(...)
The legislative proposals are being released in draft form so taxpayers and their advisors will have an opportunity to consider and comment on them before they are introduced in Parliament. Detailed explanatory notes on the proposals are also being released with the draft amendments.

Comments on the proposals are requested by October 23, 2007. Once the consultation period is over, the Government will work toward introducing these measures in Parliament at the earliest opportunity.

The Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB) and Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP):
With the Legislation unveiled, it is time to be heard
By John Stapleton
October 6, 2007
"(...) The Budget bills are important and they deserve discussion and comment. A very small window has been created to allow Canadians to respond. Download the Budget documents and the explanations. Read them carefully and make a submission by October 23, 2007. It is a unique opportunity for your voice to be heard by Members of Parliament, their staff and by the Public Service.

The following link takes you to Finance Canada's detailed and up-to-date presentation on federal transfers to provinces and territories for health and social programs; the whole section is worth exploring, but the link to the Equalization section is active so you can access information on how equalization works and the changes implemented by the 2007 federal budget.

Federal Transfers to Provinces and Territories
- incl. links to info about : Major Federal Transfers - Federal Transfers to Provinces and Territories - The Canada Health Transfer and the Canada Social Transfer - Equalization and Territorial Formula Financing - Other Transfers - Fiscal Balance - Multimedia - Related Links - Archive

Making a Strong Canadian Economy Even Stronger
News Release
June 20, 2007
Statement by the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, on behalf of Canada’s New Government at the conclusion of meetings with his provincial and territorial counterparts.

June 12, 2007
Budget Implementation Bill Is Passed in the House of Commons
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, is pleased that key measures proposed in Budget 2007 were passed today by the House of Commons.
- incl. a summary of Budget 2007 measures

Canada’s New Government Funds Key Priorities for Canadians Through Targeted Tax Relief
March 1, 2007
The Department of Finance today released its annual Tax Expenditures and Evaluations report. The report provides details of the economic and social priorities that the Government of Canada funds through targeted federal tax credits and tax reductions. The revenue estimates and projections in the report reflect the substantial tax relief proposed in the Tax Fairness Plan and announced in Budget 2006. In the last year, this amounts to 29 new tax initiatives

Canada’s New Government Provides Real Tax Relief for Canadians
February 22, 2007
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, is pleased to announce that the entire $26-billion tax relief package included in Budget 2006 is now law, thereby guaranteeing its benefits for Canadian families, students, workers and seniors. The final budget bill, Bill C-28, has received Royal Assent.

International Monetary Fund Praises Economic Plan of Canada’s New Government
February 13, 2007
News Release
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today welcomed the release of an annual International Monetary Fund (IMF) report, which praises Canada’s strong economic performance, forecasts continued growth and welcomes Advantage Canada, the long-term economic plan of Canada’s New Government.

February 7, 2007
Canada’s New Government Launches Nationwide Pre-Budget Consultations
"The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today launched online consultations, giving Canadians from coast to coast to coast an opportunity to participate in the development of Budget 2007. Canada’s New Government held federal online consultations for the first time during the development of last year’s budget."11
- includes an invitation by the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, to Pre-Budget Web Consultations

Canada’s New Government Is Providing Real Tax Relief for Canadians
News Release
December 22, 2006
Canadian families, students, workers and seniors will be able to keep more of their hard-earned money in 2006 and 2007. Canada’s New Government is providing substantial and immediate tax relief in every way the government collects taxes.
- includes a summary of all federal tax relief measures for 2006 and 2007

Canada's New Government Establishes
Program Eligibility for the Children's Fitness Tax Credit
News Release
December 19, 2006
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today released guidelines on the Children's Fitness Tax Credit, which is scheduled to become effective on January 1, 2007.The Minister confirmed that as recommended by the Expert Panel for the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit, the definition of eligible programs will support children’s participation in all programs that significantly contribute to their fitness. In addition, the Minister indicated that substantial additional support would be provided to children eligible for the disability tax credit to recognize the unique barriers they face in becoming more active.
- includes a backgrounder with more detailed info

Minister Flaherty Announces New
Collaborative Steps With Provincial and Territorial Finance Ministers
News Release
December 15, 2006
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, issued the following statement today at the conclusion of his meeting with provincial and territorial counterparts: “We had a productive meeting, a healthy exchange of views, and made considerable progress on the issues before us. There was a great deal of support for the priorities set out in the Advantage Canada plan.

A New Beginning -
The Report of the Minister of Finance's Expert Panel on Financial Security for Children with Severe Disabilities
December 2006
HTML version
PDF version (325K, 82 pages)
Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements * Introduction * The Mandate of the Panel * The Composition of the Panel * The Constitutional Constraints * The Fiscal Policy Framework * Plan Concepts * Plan Definitions and Details * Federal-Provincial Issues * Costing the Plan * Future Directions * Recommendations * Appendices (incl. the July 31/06 news release announcing the appointment of a "Panel to Help Children with Severe Disabilities" and the Terms of Reference for the Panel)

Report recommends tax break for parents of disabled children
December 13, 2006
Parents of severely disabled children should be able to set aside up to $200,000 tax free for their care, in the same manner that parents can now create savings plans for the higher education of their children, a panel set up by the federal Finance Minister to investigate the issue has concluded. In a report presented yesterday to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, the group also calls on Ottawa to provide parents of children with severe disabilities with cash grants of at least $1,000 annually over 20 years, and to double those payments to low-income families.
Source:
The Globe and Mail

Canada's New Government Reduces
Debt Burden to Lowest Level in Quarter Century
News Release
November 28, 2006
"The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today tabled in Parliament the Debt Management Report for 2005–06, which reports that Canada’s New Government has eliminated $13.2 billion in federal debt. 'This achievement will yield interest savings of approximately $650 million each and every year,' said Minister Flaherty. 'That’s money that can be used to provide priority programs or further reduce the tax burden on Canadian families and businesses.' The Government has reduced its debt to $481.5 billion from its peak of $562.9 billion in 1996–97, a reduction of $81.4 billion. Canada’s net debt burden is the lowest in the G7 and is well below the average of countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development."

Debt Management Report for 2005–06
HTML
PDF version - 1.02MB, 91 pages
Outlines the key elements of current federal debt management strategy and describes various strategic and operational aspects of the government's debt program and cash management activities over the past year

Annual Financial Report of the Government of Canada
Fiscal Year 2005–2006
September 2006
PDF version - 663K, 31 pages
HTML version
- Table of Contents, incl. links to : Report Highlights - Budgetary Revenues - Total Expenses - The Budgetary Balance and Financial Source/Requirement - Federal Debt - Comparison of Actual Budgetary Outcomes to Budget Estimates -Report of the Auditor General on the Condensed Financial Statements of the Government of Canada - Condensed Financial Statements of the Government of Canada

Fiscal Reference Tables, September 2006
HTML version
PDF version - 348K, 64 pages
The Fiscal Reference Tables provide annual data on the financial position of the federal and provincial governments. The data are presented on both a Public Accounts basis—corresponding to the accounting conventions used to report financial information to the respective legislatures—as well as on a National Accounts basis—as prepared by Statistics Canada and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Canada's New Government Renews Inflation-Target Agreement With the Bank of Canada
News Release
November 23, 2006
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today announced that as part of its Advantage Canada plan to build a strong economy for Canadians, Canada’s New Government has reached an agreement with the Bank of Canada to renew Canada’s inflation-control target for a further five years to 2011. “Maintaining low, stable and predictable inflation goes right to the bottom line of every household budget,” said Minister Flaherty. “It ensures affordable mortgage rates, allows more families to purchase new homes, secures the value of incomes and keeps the costs of purchases stable."

November 24, 2006
Online Consultations on the Advantage Canada Plan
"Invitation by the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, to Participate in Advantage Canada Consultations:
To Canadians in every part of this country, I would like to say that I’m looking forward to seeing your ideas on how we can best implement Advantage Canada, our new long-term Plan to build a strong economy for Canadians and secure a better quality of life now and for future generations."

Canada’s New Government Announces Tax Fairness Plan
October 31, 2006
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance today announced a Tax Fairness Plan for Canadians. The plan will restore balance and fairness to the federal tax system by creating a level playing field between income trusts and corporations.

October 4, 2006
More Flexibility to Seniors in the Management of Their Life Income Funds
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today announced that the regulations to immediately remove the requirement to convert federally regulated life income funds (LIFs) to life annuities at age 80 have now come into force. The regulations were published in the Canada Gazette. Seniors have asked for a greater degree of control over their retirement savings and this initiative will help give it to them," stated Minister Flaherty. A LIF is a special registered retirement income fund into which funds from pension plans or other locked-in retirement funds can be transferred.

Notice of Ways and Means Motion Tabled
September 25, 2006 - includes a Notice of Ways and Means Motion to amend the Excise Tax Act and a Detailed Proposals on the Elimination of the GST Visitor Rebate Program.

Canada’s New* Government
Continues to Deliver on Its Tax Relief Plan
News release
August 31, 2006
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today announced that Canada’s new Government is keeping its promise to Canadians by delivering on its Tax Relief Plan. The measures below are part of the Government’s plan to deliver over $20 billion in tax cuts over the next two years, which is more than the last four budgets of the previous government combined. These measures were part of the income tax measures that were proposed in Budget 2006 but not included in the Budget Implementation Act, 2006, which received Royal Assent on June 22, 2006.
These measures are:
* The new Canada Employment Credit.
* The new Textbook Tax Credit.
* The new tax credit for public transit passes.
* The new deduction for tradespeople’s tool expenses.
* A complete exemption for scholarship income received in connection with enrolment at an institution which qualifies the student for the education tax credit.
* A doubling, to $2,000 from $1,000, of the amount on which the pension income credit is calculated.
* An extension of the $500,000 lifetime capital gains exemption, and various intergenerational rollovers, to fishers.
* The new Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit.
* A reduction of the current 12 per cent small business tax rate to 11.5 per cent for 2008 and to 11 per cent thereafter.
* An increase, to $400,000 from $300,000, of the amount that a small business can earn at the small business tax rate, effective January 1, 2007.
* A reduction of the minimum tax on financial institutions.

Canada's New Government Provides Substantial Tax Relief Beginning July 1
June 30, 2006
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, reminded Canadians of tax changes that will take effect July 1, 2006. "In Budget 2006, Canada’s new government introduced more than $26 billion in tax relief over the next two years, of which over 90 per cent will go to individuals," Minister Flaherty said.
Effective July 1:
* About 655,000 low-income Canadians will be removed from the tax rolls altogether.
* The GST will be reduced to 6 per cent from 7 per cent. This will put almost $9 billion into the pockets of Canadians over the next two years.
* Working Canadians will become eligible for the Canada Employment Credit on up to $500 of annual employment income to help pay the additional costs of employment—costs for things like uniforms, computers or safety gear. Next year, the amount of employment income eligible for the credit will increase to $1,000.
* The lowest personal income tax rate will be permanently reduced to 15.5 per cent.
* The basic personal amount—the amount that an individual can earn without paying federal income tax—will increase each year and remain above previously legislated levels for 2005, 2006 and 2007.
* Canadians who buy monthly transit passes will get a tax credit. A person who buys passes costing $80 a month will receive about $150 a year in federal tax relief. That will save commuters $370 million over the next two years.
* Excise duty on Canadian wine produced with 100 per cent Canadian agricultural products is eliminated, a reduction of 62 cents a litre.
* Excise duties are reduced on the first 75,000 hectolitres of Canadian-produced beer. All Canadian brewers will enjoy excise duty savings of about $2.30 on a 24-pack of 341 ml bottles on their first 2,000 hectolitres of production per year.
* The minimum tax on financial institutions will be modified as of July 1, 2006, which will reduce government revenues by $15 million in 2006–07.

Review Finds Canada Pension Plan Is Financially Sound
News release
June 27, 2006
"Federal and provincial Ministers of Finance, as joint stewards of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), today announced the conclusion of their triennial financial review of the CPP. The review confirms that the CPP is on sound financial footing. "Our analysis suggests that the 9.9 per cent contribution rate will be sufficient to sustain the Plan into the foreseeable future," stated the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance. "We have therefore agreed that the contribution rate will remain unchanged." By providing over 3 million retired Canadians with maximum benefits of up to $844 per month, the CPP represents a key pillar of Canada’s retirement income system. With assets projected to grow to $250 billion in the next 10 years, the Plan has been recognized internationally as an affordable model for securing adequate retirement income in the face of population aging and economic change."
- incl a backgrounder: "Proposed Changes to the Canada Pension Plan"

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Report Says Canada’s Economic Outlook Very Favourable
News Release
June 16, 2006
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today welcomed the release of an annual International Monetary Fund (IMF) report that forecasts continued growth for the Canadian economy. 'I am glad to see the IMF staff highlight how Canada’s macroeconomic and policy performance has continued to ‘outshine’ that of most other industrial countries,' Minister Flaherty said."
Source:
Department of Finance Canada

Canada: Selected Issues (PDF file - 648K, 24 pages)
IMF Country Report No. 06/229
June 2006
"background documentation for the periodic consultation with the member country"
- incl. Regional Dimensions of the Canadian Economy- Canadian Inflation Targeting and Macroeconomic Volatility in Retrospect and Prospect - Conclusion and Policy Implications - Efficiency Gains from Reducing the GST Versus Personal Income Taxation in Canada - more..

Source:
Canada and the IMF
[ International Monetary fund ]
"The IMF is an organization of 184 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty."

2006 Indexation Adjustment for Personal Income Tax System
News Release
December 9, 2005
"All personal income tax amounts will be adjusted by 2.2 per cent in 2006 to ensure that inflation does not cause people to pay more income tax.
Restoration of full indexation of the personal income tax system was announced in Budget 2000 and took effect that same year. Since that time, personal income tax amounts have been indexed to inflation every year using Consumer Price Index data, as reported by Statistics Canada."
- includes Backgrounder : How Tax Parameters Are Indexed

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

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

The Economy in Brief - September 2005
"Overview
* In the second quarter of 2005 real gross domestic product (GDP) grew 3.2%, following a 2.1% increase in the first quarter.
* Final domestic demand remained solid, rising 2.9% following a gain of 6.2% in the first quarter. Residential investment rebounded from a first-quarter decline.
* Increased domestic demand was met through domestic production as real imports fell 3.5% after an 11.0% jump in the first quarter. Real exports rose 0.8% following a 5.5% gain in the first quarter.
* The current account registered its 24th consecutive quarterly surplus. It widened by over $5 billion to $18.7 billion or 1.4% of nominal GDP.
* Since the end of 2004 the Canadian economy has created over 137,000 net new jobs, all of them full-time. The unemployment rate remained at 6.8% in August, near its lowest level since 1976."

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."

Review of Canadian Federal Fiscal Forecasting
Processes and Systems
By Tim O’Neill
June 2005
HTML version
PDF version (764K, 169 pages)

Minister of Finance Welcomes Positive IMF Report on Canada
News Release
December 20, 2004
"Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale welcomed the annual Statement of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Mission on Canada, which was released today. The report lauds Canada, especially its fiscal performance, which it describes as the best among the Group of Seven (G-7) industrialized countries. 'This report is a further vindication of the sacrifices made by Canadians to get our nation’s finances back on track over the past decade,' said Minister Goodale."
Source:
Department of Finance Canada

2005 Article IV Consultation with Canada
Preliminary Conclusions of the IMF Mission
December 1, 2004
"Describes the preliminary findings of IMF staff at the conclusion of certain missions (official staff visits, in most cases to member countries). Missions are undertaken as part of regular (usually annual) consultations under Article IV of the IMF's Articles of Agreement, in the context of a request to use IMF resources (borrow from the IMF), as part of discussions of staff monitored programs, and as part of other staff reviews of economic developments."
[The IMF will release its full report on Canada next year.]

Two observations of relevance to social researchers among these preliminary findings:

"The Employment Insurance system remains an uneasy combination of unemployment insurance and social assistance. Funding the latter function through general revenues would be more efficient and transparent, and every effort should be made to reinforce the insurance principle of the program through experience rating of employers and employees. Care will be needed to resist further eroding the mid-1990s reforms and to ensure that the premium rate can be set at a low rate that balances the system over the cycle and avoids the need for annual adjustments.

Reforms in other social programs could help increase labor utilization and efficiency. Even with recent gains in labor participation, there remains room to further improve labor supply by reducing incentives for early retirement in the public pension system—such as by amending benefit calculations and curbing excessive use of disability benefits—and by lowering "welfare walls" in the social transfer system*."

*NOTE: "lowering welfare walls in the social transfer system" can of course be interpreted differently, depending on who's doing the interpreting.

Organizations like the IMF, the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development view the welfare wall within an economic framework, i.e., the disincentives that prevent people from leaving welfare. These disincentives include a range of non-cash benefits, generally health-related, that are available to households on welfare but not to low-wage workers' families. (It should be noted - but it often isn't in 'Canada-wide' reports - that this non-cash coverage for welfare households varies considerably among the provinces and territories, each of which is responsible for the design and delivery of its welfare program.) The IMF, World Bank and OECD would reduce the welfare wall to "make work more attractive than welfare" or "to make work pay more than welfare" by reducing or freezing welfare benefits and making it more difficult for households to qualify for welfare in the first place.

On the other hand, we have the social advocacy community - Canadian *and* international - reminding us that the welfare wall grew over the years not because welfare benefits were so generous, but because minimum wages and other employment standards have taken a nosedive since the 1970s. Social justice groups suggest that a better way to reduce that welfare wall would be to improve minimum wages and working conditions, including the extension of special health coverage to everyone in the low-wage sector of the Canadian economy. An increase in welfare dependency isn't generally traceable to an overly-generous system - it's a symptom of dysfunction in the low end of the labour market. It's like saying, "Yeah, the health care system is strained because of the demand, so we'll have to trim back on the health system" (vs. fixing the problems that are causing the increase in demand).
It's the labour market, Stupid.
[End of rant. For now.]

Minister of Finance Tables Debt Management Report for 2003-04
News Release
December 8, 2004
"Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale today tabled in the House of Commons and the Senate the Government of Canada’s Debt Management Report for fiscal year 2003–04. The report notes that the federal government has reduced its debt to $501.5 billion on a full accrual accounting basis, down $61.4 billion from its peak in 1996–97."
Complete report:
Debt Management Report 2003–2004
HTML version
PDF version (470K, 85 pages)

Minister of Finance Tables a Notice of Ways and Means Motion to
Implement Budget 2004 Measures
News Release
December 6, 2004
"Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale today tabled in the House of Commons a detailed Notice of Ways and Means Motion to implement measures proposed in Budget 2004. Among others, these measures include:
* introducing income tax relief for Canadian Forces personnel and police deployed to international high-risk operational missions—including additional missions announced on April 14, 2004;
* improving tax fairness for persons with disabilities and those who care for them;
* accelerating to 2005 from 2006 the increase in the small business deduction limit to $300,000;
* extending the carry-forward period for business losses to 10 years;
* eliminating the deductibility of fines and penalties;
* introducing a new regulatory regime for registered charities; and
* reducing the Air Travellers Security Charge."

Economic and Fiscal Update: Stronger Growth and Balanced Budgets for Canada
News Release
November 16, 2004
"Stronger economic growth, balanced budgets and improved management of taxpayer dollars were the main messages delivered today by Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale in his first Economic and Fiscal Update presentation to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance."

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

The Economic and Fiscal Update 2004
- incl. links to : Overview Pamphlet - Speech - Powerpoint slide presentation used by the Minister
Annexes:
Foreword
1. Canada's Fiscal Progress.
2 - Economic Developments and Prospects.
3 - Private Sector Five-Year Economic and Fiscal Projections.
4 - Private Sector Five-Year Fiscal Projections: National Accounts – Public Accounts Reconciliation.

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Google.ca News Search Results: "Economic and Fiscal Update, Canada"
Source:
Google.ca
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Tax Expenditures: Notes to the Estimates/Projections (2004)
November 4, 2004
Sets out the approach used in developing the estimates and projections contained in the main report, and also provides a description and presents the objective of each tax expenditure.

Department of Finance Releases Transfer Estimates
News Release
October 12, 2004
"The Department of Finance today issued revised estimates of transfers to the provinces for 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05. These transfers include equalization, the Canada Health Transfer, the Canada Social Transfer and the Health Reform Transfer. Revised estimates were also issued for the Territorial Formula Financing (TFF) program."

Government of Canada Records Seventh Consecutive Surplus
News Release
October 13, 2004
"Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale announced today that the Government of Canada recorded a surplus of $9.1 billion for fiscal year 2003–04. Consistent with generally accepted accounting principles, the $9.1 billion has been applied to reduce Canada’s federal debt. This marks the seventh consecutive annual surplus, the first time such a record has been achieved in Canada’s history."

Related documents:

NOTE: For more links to info about the 2004 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group Boards of Governors,
go to the Globalization Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/global.htm

Minister of Finance Tables Debt Management Strategy for 2004-05
News Release
March 30, 2004
"Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale today tabled in the House of Commons and the Senate the Government of Canada’s Debt Management Strategy for fiscal year 2004-05. The document provides details on federal borrowing and investment policies for the coming fiscal year."

The Fiscal Balance in Canada: The Facts
Revised March 9, 2004
"The argument by provincial governments that the money is in Ottawa while the needs are in the provinces does not withstand the test of facts, or take into account the reality that sound fiscal management by the federal government through balanced budgets or better benefits all Canadians."
NOTE: Go to the Canadian Social Research Links Council of the Federation or the Medicare Debate Links page for the view from the provinces and territories on fiscal balance

Economic and Fiscal Update 2003
- incl. links to Overview and Presentation (both appear below) - Powerpoint slide presentation used by the Minister - Annexes (1. Canadian Economic and Fiscal Progress: The Last Ten Years. 2. Canada’s Recent Economic Developments and Outlook. 3. Private Sector Five-Year Economic and Fiscal Projections.) - News Release

International Monetary Fund Praises Canadian Economic and Fiscal Policies
News Release
March 10, 2004
"Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale welcomed the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) strong endorsement of Canada’s economic, fiscal and monetary policies, contained in its most recent report released today."

Minister of Finance Tables Notice of Ways and Means Motion in Respect of the 100-Per-Cent GST Rebate for Municipalities
News Release
March 9, 2004
"Municipalities—large and small—need stable, reliable and predictable funding to deliver a better quality of life for all Canadians," said Minister Goodale. "As announced in the Speech from the Throne on February 2, 2004, the full rebate will provide municipalities with an additional benefit of roughly $7 billion over the next 10 years, including $580 million in the first year alone."

Speech by the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Finance, to the Toronto Board of Trade
January 27, 2004
Toronto, Ontario
"(...) There may have been a time when business could concern itself solely with managing its own affairs. But no longer. Today’s reality requires businesses to be engaged in the public life of this country not only on taxes and regulations, but also with respect to the social issues and the international considerations which are inextricably connected."

Investing in Canada's Health Care System (from the 2003 Federal Budget)
[Excerpt]
"Effective April 1, 2004, the federal government will create two new transfers:
A Canada Health Transfer in support of health.
A Canada Social Transfer in support of post-secondary education, social assistance and social services, including early childhood development.
The existing CHST (cash and tax transfer) will be apportioned between the Canada Health Transfer and Canada Social Transfer. The percentage of cash and tax points apportioned to the Canada Health Transfer will reflect the percentage of health spending within overall provincial spending in the health and social sectors supported by federal transfers. The remaining cash and tax points will be allocated to the Canada Social Transfer in support of post-secondary education, social assistance and social services, including early childhood development.
Current estimates are that health represents 62 per cent of programs supported by federal transfers, while the proportion related to post-secondary education and social assistance is 38 per cent. The precise apportionment will be determined when legislation is tabled." (Emphasis added)

Department of Finance Releases Tax Expenditure Report
News Release
September 11, 2003
Tax Expenditures and Evaluations 2003
"The Department of Finance released today its annual tax expenditure report, entitled Tax Expenditures and Evaluations—2003. The report provides estimates and projections of all federal tax expenditures. Tax expenditures, such as credits and deductions, are designed to meet economic, social and other goals of the government generally by reducing the amount of federal tax otherwise payable by individuals and businesses.
Projections in this year’s report have been adjusted to account for recent tax changes, such as:
- increases to the National Child Benefit supplement;
- the introduction of the Child Disability Benefit; and
- increases to registered pension plan (RPP) and registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) limits."
Complete report - [HTML] table of contents, incl. links to individual sections of the report

Federal-Provincial Review of The Canada Pension Plan
News Release
January 9, 2003
"The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is financially sound and is on track to provide retirement pensions in the future, federal and provincial ministers of finance announced today following the conclusion of their financial review of the CPP."
Backgrounder

Minister of Finance to Consult on Disability Tax Credit Proposals
News Release
November 29, 2002
"...proposals to amend the Income Tax Act released on August 30, 2002 regarding the disability tax credit (DTC) are no longer under consideration and new consultations are being launched to develop revised proposals. (...) Minister Manley said that the purpose of the review is not reduce the Government’s support for persons with disabilities, but rather to ensure that support continues to be provided to those most in need. The DTC recognizes that people with a severe and prolonged impairment incur disability-related expenses that reduce their ability to pay tax. The credit reduces an individual’s federal income tax by up to almost $1,000 a year. In total, the DTC provides $400 million a year in federal tax assistance to about 450,000 eligible Canadians.
Written submissions will be accepted until January 17, 2003."
Source : Finance Canada

Tax Expenditures and Evaluations 2002 (October 25, 2002)
"...provides estimates and projections for broadly defined tax expenditures as well as evaluations and descriptive papers addressing specific tax measures. This year’s edition includes two papers, 'The Impact of the Canada Child Tax Benefit on the Incomes of Families With Children'* and 'Special Federal Tax Assistance for Charitable Donations of Publicly Traded Securities,'which provide additional information on these two tax measures."
- incl. links to : Estimates and Projections of Tax Expenditures - What’s New in the 2002 Report - Description of New Tax Expenditures - The Tax Expenditures (Personal and Corporate Income Tax Expenditures, GST Tax Expenditures).
- the above link takes you to the table of contents with links to the whole report in HTML and PDF formats

News Release - October 25, 2002
"(...) The report provides estimates and projections of the revenue consequences of all tax expenditures. Tax expenditures, which take the form of exemptions, deductions, rate reductions, rebates, deferrals, credits and carry-overs, reduce federal tax payable and provide benefits to individuals and businesses on the basis of economic, social or other tax policy objectives. (...) Since this year’s projections extend to 2004, the calculations account for the full effect of the general corporate tax rate reduction that was legislated in June 2001 as part of the government’s five-year $100-billion tax reduction plan. This plan provides for a reduction in the corporate rate from 28 per cent to 21 per cent in 2004."

*Fiscal Reference Tables
October 2002
"The Fiscal Reference Tables provide annual data on the financial position of the federal and provincial governments."

*These two reports will no doubt interest social policy number-crunchers everywhere.
The second report includes an extensive longitudinal study of government expenditures, some going as far back as 1961, right up to 2002.
For example...
Major transfers to other levels of government (Table 11) shows the evolution, from 1961-62 to 2001-02, of federal transfers to provincial and territorial governments for the following categories of programs : Canada Health and Social Transfer - Fiscal transfers - Insurance and medical care - Education support - Canada Assistance Plan* - Medical Equipment Fund - Alternative Payments for Standing Programs.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
According to the figures in Table 11, total annual major transfers for health, post-secondary education and social assistance and services from the federal government to provincial/territorial governments appear to be just $300 million less in 2001-02 than they were at their peak in 1993-94 ($26.6B v. $26.9B). Does this mean we'll hear the end of the provincial/territorial Premiers' calls for "a return to pre-CHST funding levels by the federal government"?
------
*[Table 11 even includes amounts paid by Ottawa to the provinces and territories prior to CAP (1966-67) for categorical allowances for blindness, disability and unemployment, as well as final settlements paid to each province and territory between 1996 and 2000 as CAP was settling accounts with each jurisdiction]

Canada's Banks
Updated August 2002
"As of July 2002 the banking industry included 14 domestic banks, 33 foreign bank subsidiaries and 20 foreign bank branches operating in Canada. In total, these institutions managed over $1.7 trillion in assets."
...and other interesting tidbits.

Canada Pledges $30 Million to Governance Centre
News Release
July 23, 2002
"John Manley, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and Karen Redman, MP for Kitchener Centre, announced today that the Government of Canada will provide a $30-million grant to help fund the creation of a world-class research centre on international governance in Waterloo, Ontario. The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) will research issues concerning the stability and security of the international economic and financial system. The grant will match the $30-million contribution to be made by the Centre’s founder, Jim Balsillie, Chairman and Co-CEO of Research In Motion Limited."

Statement by the Honourable John Manley, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance
June 19, 2002
- incl. commentary on economic and fiscal performance, the "reasons why" and the challenges ahead

International Monetary Fund Praises Canada’s Economic and Fiscal Policies
News Release
December 19, 2001
Canada remains in a good position to weather the current economic slowdown despite the fallout from the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated in a report released today.
- includes the full text of the Statement of the IMF Mission (December 7, 2001)

Report on Operations under the Bretton Woods and Related Agreements Act - 2000
Prepared by:
International Trade and Finance Branch
Finance Canada
March 2001
-Links to information about : International Monetary Fund - Overview - Benefits of Membership - Canada's Priorities at the IMF - Efforts to Promote International Financial Stability - Poverty Reduction and Debt Relief - Lending Developments in 2000 - Managing Canada's Interests at the IMF - Canada's Office at the IMF - Canada's Financial Participation - Challenges Ahead. World Bank - Overview -World Development Report 2000-2001 - Supporting Country-Led Development and Poverty Reduction Strategies - Global Public Goods - Consultation and Information Disclosure - Improving Co-ordination With Other Agencies - Other World Bank Operations in FY 2000 - International Development Association - IDA Priorities - Canada’s Priorities at the World Bank - Managing Canada’s Interests at the World Bank - Canadian Procurement at the World Bank - International Finance Corporation - Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency - Learning About Opportunities - Canada’s Financial Participation - Future Challenges. Joint Issues - Overview - Strengthening Financial Sectors - Multilateral Debt Relief - World Bank and IMF Participation in the United Nations Financing for Development Conference. Don't miss the six annexes...

Federal Tax Cuts Take Effect in January 2001*
Finance Canada
December 14, 2000
All Canadians will receive a tax cut effective January 1, 2001, Finance Minister Paul Martin stated today. The new round of tax cuts is part of the Government’s $100-billion Five-year Tax Reduction Plan – the largest tax relief package in Canada’s history.
*January 2001 Tax Savings website (December 15/00)
Here, you can calculate your family's tax savings using the tax savings calculator. Includes links to the following : Tax Savings for Individuals and Families - Permanent Inflation Protection - Timely Relief for Heating Expenses - Education Tax Credit - Helping Canadians With Special Needs - Canada Child Tax Benefit.

Economic Statement and Budget Update
October 18, 2000
Finance Canada
The Government's Four-Part Plan : A Strong Economy - Sound Financial Management - Paying Down the Debt - Investing in Canada's Social Fabric.
Reducing Taxes for Canadians.
Tax Relief to Encourage Entrepreneurship, Jobs and Growth.
Strengthening Education, Research and Innovation.
Investing in a Clean Environment.
News Release
Economic Statement and Update (short)
Overview - more detailed information on the Economic Statement
Tax Calculator

Federal Government Moves to Implement its $23.4-Billion Commitment for Health and Social Funding
Press Release
Finance Canada
October 4, 2000
The $23.4-billion funding commitment will be provided as follows:
- An additional $21.1 billion over five years through increased funding for the Canada Health and Social Transfer (CHST) for health, post-secondary education and social assistance and services. Of this increase, $2.2 billion is provided to support early childhood development.

Government Budgets - Links to the most recent budget in each Canadian jurisdiction

Federal Support for Health in Canada
March 29, 2000
Incl.- The federal role in health today - History of federal transfers for health - Recent federal investments in health - Why the 11 cents is wrong…

Federal Government Departments and Agencies involved with social programs

Federal Government Departments and Agencies
involved with social programs