Government online budget consultations priorities can include First Nation economic stimulus package
The federal government is launching an online pre-budget consultation today. The online form provides an opportunity to rank your own economic stimulus idea and highlight the areas you want to see investments made to support the Canadian economy. The AFN's call for a First Nation economic stimulus package is not listed in the priorities but everyone is still invited to make it their number 1 priority for government investment when you complete the Online Pre-Budget Consultations (see below for the link).
Government Launches National Consultation on Budget Actions to Protect Canada’s Economy
Ottawa, December 11, 2008
Related documents:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today launched the Government’s national consultation leading into its fourth budget, to be tabled on January 27, 2009. The national consultation will give all Canadians a voice in how to protect Canada’s economy. As in previous years, the Government will conduct online consultations, which begin today.
“It’s quite clear that Canada will continue to feel the effects of the global economic downturn,” said Minister Flaherty. “Our Government is developing our next budget to respond to this downturn. It will build on the progress we’ve made to keep our economy among the strongest in the industrialized world, and bring forward the measures we need to stimulate economic activity here in Canada, while avoiding a return to long-term structural deficits.”
“The Government is open to innovative new ideas that would help shape the plan for economic recovery in the 2009 budget,” continued Minister Flaherty.
The following ideas have been proposed as ways of providing stimulus in Budget 2009.
- Investing in housing
- Expediting infrastructure spending
- Building strong and sustainable labour markets and training incentives
- Supporting traditional and emerging industrial sectors
Improving access to credit
The Government is asking Canadians for their views on these priorities as well as any other ideas they care to submit at www.fin.gc.ca/scripts/prebudgetsurvey/selectMainPriorities_e.asp. The Web page also features links to a presentation called Fiscal Stimulus. The online consultations will end at midnight, January 9, 2009.
As well as online consultations, the Minister will meet with individuals and groups. He will host roundtable discussions with invited stakeholders in five cities across Canada in the coming weeks:
Saint John, New Brunswick
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Montréal, Quebec
Thornhill, Ontario
Victoria, British Columbia
In addition, Minister Flaherty will meet with provincial and territorial finance ministers on December 17, 2008, in Saskatoon to discuss the upcoming budget.
“It is important that we hear the views of all Canadians on how to build on the actions our Government has already taken to help Canada weather the economic storm,” said Minister Flaherty.
At the recent World Leaders meeting in Washington, D.C., Canada and its partners agreed on the need to use fiscal measures to stimulate their economies as soon as possible, while ensuring such measures are fiscally sustainable.
“This is a pivotal time for Canada’s economy. Our Government looks forward to consulting widely as we build on our plan to protect our future,” said Minister Flaherty.
___________________________________
For further information, media may contact:
Chisholm Pothier
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Finance
613-996-7861
Jack Aubry
Media Relations
Department of Finance
613-996-8080