QUESTION PERIOD — Finance
Tabling of Budget
March 17, 2021
Honourable senators, my question is for Senator Gold. Recent reports in the media suggest the government is ruling out tabling a federal budget this month. The finance minister’s office offered up a vague timeline for when they expect to table a budget, saying the minister would table it “sometime in the spring.” My colleagues in this place, as well as members in the other place, have repeatedly highlighted that Canada remains the only G7 nation yet to table a full budget since the beginning of this pandemic.
Senator, it has been 739 days. Canadians deserve transparency from the government. Will you provide this chamber, as well as Canadians, with assurances that the federal government will table a full and transparent budget, and could you provide us with a more concrete timeline?
Thank you for your question. I understand the preoccupations. The government is working on the preparation of its budget. It’s doing the work that will inform its 2021 budget, including virtual — because of the pandemic — round tables with Canadians from a wide variety of sectors, regions and industries. Also, I’m advised that the Department of Finance has received approximately 58,000 written questionnaire submissions. I’m not in a position to provide you with a specific date. The government remains focused, as you know, on supporting Canadians throughout the pandemic and creating the conditions for our recovery and will continue to do so.
Senator Gold, as I said earlier, after 739 days with no budget, in one of the worst positions of any G7 nation, why are we focused only on the pandemic as we move forward, and what is going to happen? We have gone up to $1.83 trillion forecasted total debt. Years ago we were at about $700 billion. This is a serious issue. Canadians want their lives back. When will we get some form of a firm, complete budget?
Senator, I understand the importance of your question and the importance of providing a framework going forward for Canada’s recovery from this pandemic.
Regrettably, we’re still in the thick of it, and the government remains focused, and will continue to remain focused, on assisting Canadians and businesses as we get through this. The government has provided updates. It has returned to a more — how shall I put it? — traditional schedule with regard to economic updates, Main Estimates, supplementary estimates and the Fall Economic Statement. The forthcoming budget should provide Canadians with an understanding of the government’s intentions going forward.