Upcoming fiscal budget and development assistance
In the wake of budget season in Ottawa, we need to recall Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement where he said “we will focus not only on enhancing the prosperity of Canadians, but of all global citizens in an inclusive way.” In a world of abundance and extravagance that we live in today, there is […]
Politics This Morning: MPs to debate Liberal middle class tax cut
Good Monday Morning! MPs are back in Ottawa after a week recess, and they’ll be debating Bill C-2, the Liberals’ middle class tax cut. The Bill reduces the tax rate for Canadians earning between $45,282 and $90,563 from 22 per cent to 20.5 per cent and introduces a new tax rate of 33 per cent […]
Timing unknown on Liberal commitments to reform Internal Economy Board, PBO
There’s no indication yet for when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government will act on campaign commitments to open up the secretive Commons Board of Internal Economy and strengthen the Office of Parliamentary Budget Officer, as reiterated in Government House Leader Dominic LeBlanc’s mandate letter, but NDP MP Peter Julian said these are “important” changes the public wants to […]
Liberals should restore official development assistance, says reader
If the Liberals insist on carrying on with their spending spree plans, why not restore our beleaguered ODA budget? For decades, both Liberal and Conservative governments have treated our official development assistance (ODA) budget as a cookie jar to be raided. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that “Moving forward, […]
Where’s the urgency on Canada’s economy?
OTTAWA—Inertia is a risky business in politics. Bill Morneau, the Liberal finance minister, seems like a good guy—intelligent, well-meaning, and highly accomplished. But his performance has definitely shown the hallmarks of the amateur. He’s been consulting with Canadians for months on what to do about the economy. That’s all very nice, and an important change […]
House gets $25-million boost, should have been released
The House will increase its total budget by about $25-million this year and MPs will be getting an almost $58,000 boost to their office budgets in April, which represents a 20 per cent increase, after a seven-year freeze. This is good news for MPs, but it should have been publicly released, not leaked to some […]
Former PBO Page to help run new think-tank
Former parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page has been tapped to help run a new think-tank called the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy. Based at the University of Ottawa, it will be “the only Canadian university-based think-tank to focus on public finance and institutions,” the school said in a press release. Mr. Page currently holds the […]
MPs slammed for quietly boosting House budget by $25-million
Members of Parliament will be getting an almost $58,000 boost to their office budgets for 2016-17—a 20 per cent increase starting in April following a seven-year freeze—along with an extra $1,400 each for travel expenses, but these changes are being met with mixed reactions on and off the Hill. Some MPs are welcoming the extra funds […]
Finance Committee to begin drafting report on pre-budget consultations March 7
When MPs return to the Hill next week, the Finance Committee will begin drafting their report on what the committee heard during their marathon pre-budget consultations conducted over eight meetings in two weeks. The committee is scheduled to meet Monday, March 7, at 3:30 p.m. in-camera, in Centre Block Room 112-N to discuss the drafting […]
Liberals should exercise caution when it comes to deficits
The government has committed to running budgetary deficits for the short-term in order to promote economic growth. This was at the heart of the Liberal Party’s election platform and few can argue that it does not have a clear mandate to carry out its policy. Last week, Finance Minister Bill Morneau confirmed that the government […]
