Industry participants gave yesterday’s federal budget mixed reviews. The Investment Dealear’s Association of Canada said the proposed limitations on the use of income trusts by the pension sector could curb future growth.

The IDA’s response to the budget was mostly positive. The IDA said it is pleased this year’s federal budget shows finances remaining on solid ground but called for continuing vigilance on controlling government spending. “Controlling expenditures will allow the government to make future tax cuts needed to promote productivity and competitiveness,” said IDA president and CEO Joe Oliver, in a release.

The IDA welcomed the government’s intention of making securities regulation reform a priority. It has previously called of both Ottawa and the provinces to address this issue.

As for the tax treatment of income trusts, the IDA said the “proposed limitation of pension plan involvement in the sector, however, may constrain the future growth of this vehicle that has become a key component of Canada’s capital market for investors and issuers.”

Advocis voiced mixed reviews on the budget. The association said that although it is pleased with the absence of major spending initiatives, it is disappointed more incentives to help Canadians increase their savings have not been introduced.

“While we are encouraged by the absence of major spending initiatives in today’s budget, we would have liked a stronger commitment toward encouraging Canadians to save more by further increasing RRSP contribution limits,” said Beverly Brooks, Advocis vice president of public affairs, in a release.

Canada’s Chartered Accountants endorsed the budget, in particular the renewed commitment to allocating money for prudence and debt reduction, but also cautioned that the success of the government’s long-term plans may be contingent on the economy performing well over the coming years.

CAs are pleased with short and long-term plans to realize savings through re-allocation, rather than taking on new program commitments. The budget announced $1 billion in annual re-allocation from existing 2004-2005 spending and plans to review all programs to identify a minimum of $3 billion annually in savings within four years.

Although only $1.9 billion will be paid against the federal debt in 2004, the budget included a government objective of lowering the debt-to-GDP ratio to 25% within 10 years from its 2003-2004 mark of roughly 42%. “Reducing the debt pays dividends: we estimate that for every $1 billion reduction in our interest-bearing debt, the government would expect to save $50 million in interest costs each year,” said Pierre Brunet, FCA, Chair of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants Board of Directors. “Much progress has been made in reducing the debt load, but the reality remains that the debt translates to $40,000 owed for every household in Canada.”