Canada Hopes Economy Picks up to Balance Budget by 2015
Canada's Tory government pegged a return to a balanced budget and its re-election hopes in 2015 on a strong rebound in the economy on Thursday, after being dealt an unexpected slump in recent months.
"We have some tough times ahead," Finance Minister Jim Flaherty told the House of Commons, promising that a "consistent, steady hand" will get Canada back on track.
In previous budgets Flaherty slashed billions of dollars in spending, and so less painful measures were required this round in order to eventually reach his goal.
But he said frugality, as well as closing tax loopholes "with strange names like 'Synthetic Dispositions' and 'Character Conversion Transactions,'" remains key to balancing the books.
After coming to power in 2006, the Conservatives posted two back-to-back budget surpluses before the global recession hit and Canada has arguably weathered the crisis better than other Group of Seven nations.
Its debt-to-GDP ratio rose only slightly from last year to 33.8 percent in fiscal 2013-2014 despite tens of billions in stimulus spending. And it is on course to become the first among its G7 peers to return to a surplus.
However, "a recent moderation in economic growth" cut projected revenues by Can$1.2 billion (U.S.$1.17 billion), according to the budget document, which also warned of "significant risks ahead."
Flaherty said that the global economy remains "fragile" and Canada's biggest trading partners, including the European Union and the United States, are "among the worst affected."
"The U.S. is burdened by massive debt and recovery is sluggish. As a result, the appetite for Canadian exports is unsteady," he explained.
Economists revised their growth forecasts to 1.6 percent this year, down nearly a full percentage point since the last budget, after key economic indicators in recent months pointed to slowing activity.
Flaherty, however, said he is optimistic the economy will rebound next year, reaching relative stellar growth of 2.5 percent. As such, his average outlook for the coming years is unchanged from his last fiscal update in November.
"Our government is committed to balancing the budget in 2015. Period," he said.
"In uncertain economic times, the most important contribution a government can make to bolster confidence and growth in a country is to maintain a sound fiscal position," he explained.
The opposition, however, cast doubt over Flaherty's forecasts.
"His predictions are consistently wrong," New Democratic Party leader Thomas Mulcair told reporters.
"He's running a higher deficit than he thought he would, and his estimates for growth on the year that has just ended were wrong, and he's predicting even higher growth for next year, and when we're here together next year we will also find out that was wrong."
In this budget, Ottawa is predicted to post a Can$18.7 billion (U.S.$18.2 billion) deficit for the year ending March 31, 2014, a smaller deficit the following year and a tiny surplus in fiscal 2015-2016 of Can$0.8 billion.
To make ends meet, Flaherty restricted spending growth, hoping government outlays will decline as a percentage of gross domestic product over time.
He proposed a paltry Can$922 million (U.S.$899 million) in new spending this year for items such as housing construction in the Arctic, as well as building new roads, bridges and public transit, and improving weather forecasting.
Monies were also earmarked to help Canadians get the right training to "significantly reduce a mismatch between employers and job seekers."
Mining exploration and fish farming, as well as manufacturers and small businesses, meanwhile, are to get a boost from tax credits or tax relief.
Import tariffs on baby clothes and ice skates will also be lowered to bring Canadian retail prices in line with cheaper American offers.
At the same time, Flaherty said he would seek to trim costs by targeting public sector compensation to make it "affordable" and bring it in line with "other public and private sector employers" offers.
Coming on the heels of layoffs 19,200 government staff, or 4.8 percent of the federal workforce, announced last year, unions however said they will oppose what they see as another attack by the Conservatives on organized labor.
Source: Agence France Presse
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