Home › Policy Articles: Fiscal & Budgetary: Federal & Provincial Budget: 2004

Niels Veldhuis and Todd Gabel broadly examine the $58 billion worth of debt reduction accomplished by the federal government between 1997-98 and 2001-02.

Each year the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) releases the Saskatchewan Alternative Budget of Choice in partnership with all of the communities affected by the provincial government’s budgetary decisions. The Alternative Budget is intended as a tool to influence government decisions, as well as an educational tool for community organizations.

The Parkland Institute's Committee on Alberta's Finances prepared this report. The authors contend the Alberta government is stuck in yesterday’s rhetoric of debt crisis.

This report advocates improving the many public service areas that were subject to budget cuts a decade ago in the interests of improving Alberta's debt. With extensive empirical evidence the study considers the advantageous position of Alberta's economy and financial situation as well as the social conditions that have been created by budget cutbacks. Finally this report points to a lack of accountability of government expenditures and makes recommendations to improve specific public services.

Since 1995, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) has released an annual Alternative Federal Budget to coincide with the federal government’s budget. The CCPA’s goal has always been to show there are alternatives to government decisions – and that a credible plan of social reinvestment exists for using huge federal government surpluses.

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.

This paper assesses Prince Edward Island’s fiscal situation. Wimal Rankaduwa and John Jacobs point out that PEI, along with most other provinces, must reassess its financial situation.

This BC Alternative Budget focuses on preparing the province for the Winter Olympic Games in 2010. As the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) puts it, “We’ve invited the world. They’re coming. And the place is a mess.” It suggests that the 2010 Olympics present both challenges and opportunities for BC.

This commentary, published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) accompanies the Alternative Provincial Budget for Ontario’s 2004 Budget. The CCPA argues that, while the Ontario Finance Minister identified the poor state of public services before he released his budget – a large fiscal deficit, overcrowded classrooms, a shortage of doctors and nurses, among others – his budget ultimately failed to address these problems.

In this brief report written before the June 2004 Canadian federal election, Ellen Russell and Sheila Black assess whether the Conservative, Liberal, and New Democratic parties can pay for what they are promising in their election platforms.

This technical paper is one in a series released along with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ (CCPA) Alternative Federal Budget. Ellen Russell argues that keen observers of the federal government are well aware of the government’s abysmal record of forecasting its own surpluses.

Since the federal government achieved its debt reduction target in 1997, it has enjoyed budget surpluses. These surpluses are projected to increase over the next several years.

This study aims to project the federal Public Accounts and the overall provincial/ territorial government Public Accounts over the medium- and long-term.

This study by Anther Akbari provides evidence in favor of removing the gap in wages between males and females. As Akbari explains this change would actually benefit the public treasury by increasing income tax revenue, decreasing healthcare costs and decreasing welfare program needs. Akbari estimates that New Brunswick alone could have saved 688 million dollars in 2003 if the wage gap were to be bridged.

Gary Tompkins’ report responds to the Saskatchewan Alternative Provincial Budget released by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA). Much of the criticism directed toward the government’s budget pertains to the affordability of increased program expenditures and the resulting deficit. However, according to Tompkins, the narrow definition of what many perceive as government deficit is part of the problem.

Ellen Russell’s brief report serves as a backgrounder for the 2004 Federal Budget. The author questions whether the 2004 budget marks the end of the era of large federal budget surpluses.

This brief report, which accompanies the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ Ontario Alternative Provincial Budget, examines the province’s current fiscal situation and argues that public services need more funding. Hugh Mackenzie asserts that Dalton McGuinty’s Liberal government will be unable to meet three of its 2003 election promises.

Hugh Mackenzie’s report reviews Newfoundland and Labrador’s fiscal situation following the change of government in the fall of 2003. Soon after he was sworn in, Premier Danny Williams commissioned a report on the state of the province’s finances.

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.

Writing immediately following the election of a Liberal government under Premier Dalton McGuinty in the fall of 2003, Hugh Mackenzie argues the new government cannot keep several key promises it made during its election bid.

Michael Mendelson takes a critical look at the federal government’s practice of underestimating its annual budget surplus.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ Alternative Federal Budget 2004 is accompanied by a brief report in which Armine Yalnizyan argues that Paul Martin has created a revolution in how the federation works in delivering small government to Canadians.

This brief paper was composed to direct spending of the federal surplus. In it Sherri Torjman, Ken Battle and Michael Mendelson suggest directing resources towards child benefits, early childhood care and community supports foe persons with disabilities and the aging population.

According to Tammy Horne and Susan Abells, the Alberta government has instilled in Albertans the notion that the province’s public health system is on the brink of fiscal collapse.

Saskatchewan stands at a political crossroads: its government can either implement a social democratic agenda defined by enhanced access to public services, or a conservative agenda that constricts the resources available for these purposes. Erin Weir suggests that the election of the NDP government leaves the social democratic path open, but does not guarantee it will be followed.