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Parliament Hill where 2023 Fall Economic Statement was delivered

2023 Fall Economic Statement runs counter to Ottawa’s claims of fiscal prudence

In the 2023 Fall Economic Statement  tabled yesterday, the federal government was keen to boast about maintaining its ‘fiscal anchor’—the budget guardrails that seek to limit spending and deficits. Yet its recent policy commitments suggest otherwise. With debt-servicing costs skyrocketing, the fiscal picture is anything but pleasant. While the 2023 Fall Economic Statement is light […]

Fall Economic Statement 2020 Parliament buildings Centre Block

Fall Economic Statement predicts record deficits, extends COVID-19 relief measures for business

The federal government’s Fall Economic Statement 2020 delivered few surprises. As expected, it did not provide a clear fiscal anchor for the year ahead. Nor was there a plan to return to fiscal balance in the near future. Ottawa hasn’t delivered a formal budget since March, 2019, well before the coronavirus pandemic sent the country’s […]

Ontario budget 2019: ‘Open for Business’ moves from campaign slogan to governing mantra

When Doug Ford swept into power last year, he promised that Ontario would once again be ‘Open for Business.’ The new Progressive Conservative premier went so far as to plaster his campaign slogan on highway signs at the Ontario-U.S. border. It was a not-so-subtle, all-caps reminder to our American friends of his commitment to undoing […]

Ontario budget 2018 offers little to entrepreneurs in lead-up to June election

The Ontario Liberal party under Premier Kathleen Wynne is locked in a desperate fight for its political life as the Grits seek re-election in June. Not surprisingly, the 2018 provincial budget showers goodies on virtually every constituency from parents with small children (proposed free childcare for children between the ages of two-and-a-half until they enter […]

How budgeting pitfalls can derail a start-up’s success

The early days of any new business are the most exciting. That’s when entrepreneurial hope springs eternal, when innovation and ideation are most important and when unbounded growth seems just a few sales away. It’s a fun—if somewhat terrifying—time. Many business owners will develop detailed business plans as they launch a new company, often with […]

After outcry from entrepreneurs, federal budget introduces watered-down passive income rules

  Owners of small and medium-sized businesses across Canada can finally breathe a sigh of relief. For the most part, they’ve won this round in the ongoing fight with the federal government to halt contentious tax reforms for corporations. Indeed, the 2018 federal budget will be remembered for what it didn’t do, rather than introducing […]

2017 Federal Budget Commentary

The Federal Government’s 2017–18 Budget gives Canadians a taste of what they might expect over the next couple of years: attempted efficiencies, closed tax loopholes, steady deficits, and a touch of caution. Budget 2017 outlines only $200 million in net new spending, but also an increase to the deficit of more than $5 billion for […]

2016 Ontario Budget Commentary

  On February 25, 2016 Finance Minister Charles Sousa tabled his fourth Budget. The deficit for the 2015-16 fiscal year is projected to be $5.7 billion, which is $2.8 billion less than forecasted in the 2015 Budget. The deficit is projected to drop to $4.3 billion for 2016-17 and to be eliminated by 2017-18. Furthermore, […]