PATTERSON: What to expect in Harper's budget today

[Oscar]

PATTERSON: What to expect in Harper's budget today

[ http://www.canadians.org/blog/what-expe ... dget-today ]

February 11, 2014

What might we expect in the federal budget today?

Finance minister Jim Flaherty says that this year's budget won't show a surplus, but that the spring 2015 budget will, just in time for the October 2015 election. He has also been suggesting that today's budget will include new spending on infrastructure and job-creation initiatives, as well as a crackdown on charitable organizations.

In last year's budget, Flaherty announced a 10-year, $53-billion infrastructure plan, with spending scheduled to begin this year. That includes a $14.4 billion Building Canada Fund to promote public-private partnerships. And he is suggesting that this budget will have money to help 15-24 year old youth to help them get their first job, which could mean money for internships and apprenticeships. Flaherty has also warned that there may be new rules for charities engaged in environmental work, undoubtedly targeted at those opposing the government's extreme resource-extraction agenda.

And it has been reported, [ http://www.torontosun.com/2014/02/10/bu ... vice-costs ] "QMI Agency has learned that the 2014 budget will confirm a two-year freeze on the operating budgets of federal government departments, ask retiring civil servants to pay a greater percentage of their publicly funded health plan costs, and move towards a system which will see employees of Crown corporations pay more for their retirement plans."

What we don't expect to see in the budget is the needed investments in water and wastewater infrastructure for First Nations across this country, spending on the Great Lakes, nor a shift away from the 2014 Health Accord formula that will take $36 billion out of our public health care system over the next ten years. While Canadian corporations continue to sit on their profits (a record level $572 billion) [ http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014 ... arper.html ] and the wealth gap in this country continues to grow, the Harper government continues on its austerity path to cut federal spending by $90 billion between 2010 and 2014.

The budget will be unveiled at 4 pm ET today.


Further reading:

Harper's 'Building Canada Fund' promotes P3s
[ http://canadians.org/blog/harpers-build ... omotes-p3s ]

Alternative Federal Budget calls for bold national water policy
[ http://canadians.org/media/alternative- ... ter-policy ]

Harper attacks charitable public interest organizations
[ http://canadians.org/blog/harper-attack ... anizations ]


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CCPA: Alternative Federal Budget 2014: Striking a Better Balance.

[ https://www.policyalternatives.ca/afb20 ... AFB%202014 ]

February 8, 2014

Yesterday the CCPA released the Alternative Federal Budget 2014: Striking a Better Balance. This year marks the 19th anniversary of the AFB. Each year it shows what the federal government could do if it decided to seriously tackle Canadians' largest social, economic, and environmental concerns.

The federal government is poised to table a “do-nothing” budget next week that will only worsen Canada’s struggling economy. In contrast, the AFB delivers a plan that would lift 855,000 Canadians out of poverty, boost the economy, lower unemployment to 5.4%, strengthen and expand public services—and still balance the budget by 2016-17 (just one year later than the federal government plan). It also raises the bar on transparency by providing an analysis of the distributional and poverty impacts of its tax measures—a first for any budget.

I think you’ll agree: our plan shows impressive progress can be made on many of the pressing issues facing our country, all that’s lacking is political will.

The complete Alternative Federal Budget and a handy Budget in Brief are available on our website in both English and French.
For AFB materials in French, please visit: L'Alternative budgétaire pour le gouvernement fédéral 2014.

Budget in Brief: Alternative Federal Budget 2014: Striking a Better Balance:
[ https://www.policyalternatives.ca/sites ... nBrief.pdf ]