Home › Policy Articles › Article Summary

Nova Scotia Alternative Provincial Budget Fiscal Plan 2004-05

Report by Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) coordinates an annual Alternative Budget for the Province of Nova Scotia. This Alternative budget provides a means for residents of Nova Scotia to participate in budget planning. The 2004-05 plan included input from representatives of the labour and business sectors as well as from social advocacy groups. The CCPA uses this planning as an opportunity to increase citizen engagement and awareness of the provincial budget process, thereby enriching the democratic process.

According to the CCPA, the Hamm government now faces the consequences of its income tax cut: an estimated budget shortfall of $100 million for 2004-05. As a result, the Premier advises that very difficult choices must be made in the 2004-05 budget. However, the CCPA argues that Nova Scotians can no longer afford the choices the government has made in cutting expenditure and income taxes.

The CCPA identifies three fundamental challenges that must be addressed: 1) under-funding of programs, services and infrastructure; 2) insufficient revenue; and 3) the size of the province’s debt. The CCPA posits that its Alternative Budget, which it considers to be both socially and financially responsible, provides a realistic and prudent fiscal plan for addressing these challenges.

(Added: Wed Feb 01 2006 Hits: 96 Rating: 0.00 Votes: 0)   Rate It   Review It

---

Policy Publication Details

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

---

Subjects / Categories:

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

---

Keywords / Tags:

alternative provincial budget; balanced budgets; underfunded social services; income tax cuts; budget deficits; debts; revenue sources;