Category: Budget 2023

Canadian Air Passengers to Pay Government 33% More in Security Fees

To gain revenue of about $300 million, the federal government will collect 33 percent more in safety fees from airline travellers. The rise in fees is part of the 2023 budget plan, and it includes an increase from $15 to $20 on domestic flights and $26 to $34 on international flights, according to Blacklock’s Reporter. While…


Budget 2023: Canada Firmly Back in the Red

OTTAWA—After a brief hint of a budget surplus in last fall’s fiscal update, Canada will once again be facing budget deficits for the foreseeable future. The deficit will be $43 billion for the government’s fiscal year ending this month and is projected to improve to $14 billion in the red by March 2028. The fall…


30 Percent Chance of Government Failing Fiscal Goal of Reducing Federal Debt Over Next Decade: Study

With a little over a week before the federal government releases Budget 2023, a stress test of the current fiscal policy shows that Ottawa has a 30 percent chance of failing to achieve its core fiscal goal of reducing federal debt over a 10-year period, says a Fraser Institute study. The study, titled “Stress Testing the…


London Commuters Hit by Tube Strike as Unions Target Budget Day for Action

Millions of commuters in London have been hit by a Tube strike called by the two big trade unions, ASLEF and the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT). The strike coincided with industrial action by up to 500,000 junior doctors, teachers, civil servants, lecturers, BBC journalists, and Amazon workers. ASLEF and the RMT are in dispute…


Singh Says He Expects 2023 Budget Will Include Money for Dental Care

Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party is using its agreement with the Liberals as leverage to push for its priorities in the upcoming federal budget, set to be released on March 28. Singh said he expects the upcoming budget will have money to expand dental care coverage to teens, seniors, and people living…


Inflation, Debt-Servicing Costs Add Challenges to Upcoming Federal Budget

News Analysis Inflation will make the upcoming federal budget a tough balancing act of offering Canadians relief for cost-of-living increases without increasing deficits or triggering an election. The federal budget will be tabled March 28 and is expected to offer affordability measures, provide investments to help transition to a net-zero carbon economy, and designate already-promised…


Public Transit Ridership Remains Far Below Pre-Pandemic Levels Despite High Gas Prices: Report

Canada’s public transit ridership remains far below pre-pandemic levels despite high gas prices of late, according to data released by Statistics Canada on Dec. 20. In its “Urban Public Transit” report, StatsCan said ridership in October (117.3 million) was the highest since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. “That said, there were 51.9 million fewer…


Government Asks Canadian Public to Share Ideas on Budget 2023

The government of Canada launched a “Let’s Talk Budget 2023” initiative on Dec. 14, inviting all Canadians to share their ideas as part of its annual pre-budget consultations. “With the Canadian economy facing global headwinds and Canadians contending with the impacts of global inflation and elevated interest rates, the suggestions received from Canadians will inform measures…