Canadian Economy Stimulus

Finance Minister Invites Your Opinions

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 Consulting With Canadians. The Web page also features links to a presentation called Fiscal Stimulus. The online consultations will end at midnight, January 9, 2009.

Editor's Comment: We often complain the government doesn't listen to what we have to say, but here is YOUR opportunity to actually participate in the process. Give some serious thought to what you think will help Canada during this time of economic uncertainty and then participate in the online survey.