Finance Minister Launches 2017 Budget Consultations

It’s that time of year: Finance Canada is doing pre-budget consultations and wants you to weigh in on what you’d like to see in the 2017 federal budget. The department has launched a savvy new consultation site with new multi-media opportunities to contribute your best thoughts.

Specifically, how would you improve economic realities, particularly for the middle class, and grow a modern economy rife with the jobs of tomorrow?

It’s a good direction to think into, especially given this week’s reports on global economic malaise.  The Globe and Mail reported yesterday that this week, the World Trade Organization has cut its global trade growth forecast to 1.7%, down more than one-third from its April 2016 forecast, blaming China’s economic slowdown and falling imports into the United States as key factors.

Against this backdrop, families are trying to save money to pay down mortgages, fund children’s education and their own retirements. Further, the jobs of the future will look quite different, as Canada takes its place in a digital world economy. The blue-collar jobs of the past may disappear forever, potentially providing more hardship for those who don’t retrain.

So your best thoughts are important during these consultations. The government is asking you to consider answering the following four questions:

• Where can we invest to create more and better jobs?
• What opportunities should new graduates look forward to?
• How can we ensure we position Canadian businesses to compete around the world?
• How can we make sure our success is shared with those who need it most?

They have provided a new “Ideas Forum” and an “E Workbook” for you to consider whether you would invest in transit, housing, the environment or infrastructure. Other questions include:

• How would you improve ways to create new ideas, products or services and promote them globally?
• How would you prepare Canadians for the jobs of tomorrow?
• How should our governments create new trade and investment opportunities from around the world?

Be sure to visit http://budget-lebudget.ca/ and while you are at it, give us your best thoughts on this month’s Knowledge Bureau poll question which closes on Friday:  In your opinion, would Canadians be encouraged to share more with their communities if the charitable donations tax credit was further enhanced?

We have been impressed by the thoughtful commentary poll respondents have left on this issue.

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