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Alternative Federal Budget 2005: Fiscal and Economic Update

Report by CCPA

Each year the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) prepares the Alternative Federal Budget in partnership with a coalition of community, labour, environmental, and social advocacy organizations. While the 2005 Alternative Federal Budget will be released in February, this brief report summarizes current thinking of Alternative Federal Budget participants regarding the present fiscal situation facing the federal government.

Over the past seven years federal Finance Ministers have consistently predicted razor-thin surpluses, but there continue to be sizeable surpluses every year, which the CCPA has consistently predicted. The Alternative Federal Budget contends that the federal government underestimates its surpluses by design: by concealing its surpluses, it avoids pressure to use the funds to reinvest in programs it slashed during the prime deficit-fighting years. This report examines, in detail, where cuts have been made, while offering prescriptions for where money should be reinvested.

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Policy Publication Details

Author(s):	CCPA;
Publisher:	Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives [ Visit Website ]
Year Published:	2004;	Publisher Type:	Research Institute
Publicly Available:	Yes	Research Focus:	National;
Registration Required:	No	Language:	English
Payment Required:	No	Publication Format:	Adobe PDF

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Subjects / Categories:

Policy Articles / Fiscal & Budgetary / Federal & Provincial Budget
Policy Articles / Fiscal & Budgetary / Federal & Provincial Budget / 2004
Policy Articles / Fiscal & Budgetary

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Keywords / Tags:

alternative federal budget; surpluses; estimated surpluses; federal fiscal situtation; social spending cuts; reinvestment in social programs;