Publications

Amid an Oil Price Collapse…The Harper Government Delivers on its Balanced Budget Promise

Highlights

• As promised, the 2015-16 Budget is balanced.  The government projects small surpluses through to 2019.
• The economic back drop is challenging as the drop in oil prices is weighing on economic growth and federal revenues.  Real GDP growth is now projected to be 2.0% this year, whereas the September Fiscal Update foresaw growth of 2.6% in 2015.
• Budget 2015 had few surprises and felt like a pre-election document, as it delivered some targeted tax relief and reiterated many previously announced tax and spending initiatives.
• The Budget extends accelerated depreciation for eligible investments by manufacturers and reaffirms higher depreciation rates for LNG plants.
• There is also more tax relief for small businesses from a phased-in reduction in the small business income tax rate from 11% to 9%, in four increments starting next January.
• The government confirmed pre-budget speculation by enriching the Tax-Free Savings Account Program; the annual contribution limit rises from $5,500 to $10,000.
• The government is continuing with existing infrastructure funding commitments and is also investing a further $750 million over two years starting in 2017-18, and $1 billion per year thereafter, in a new Public Transit Fund.

Download the full budget analysis here
Download our News Release on the budget here