Setting federal finances on a constructive path requires regaining control over rapid spending growth, according to the C.D. Howe Institute’s shadow budget for 2006, released today in advance of the federal government’s May 2 budget.

In Lower Taxes, Focused Spending, Stronger Federation: A Shadow Federal Budget for 2006, authors Finn Poschmann, associate director of research at the C.D. Howe Institute and Bill Robson, senior vice president and Director of research, show how lower federal transfers and operating costs create room for tax relief, in the form of a lower GST and lower income-tax rates.

Besides promoting economic growth, tax relief offers provinces room to become more financially self-sustaining, enhancing flexibility and accountability in Canada’s federation.

Also in budget news, the Department of Finance unveiled the following ways to access information on this year’s federal budget:

Website

Shortly after the 2006 budget is tabled on May 2, 2006 at approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), all budget documents will be available free of charge on the Department of Finance website at www.fin.gc.ca.

Internet users will also be able to view multimedia budget presentations, including a live video broadcast of Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty delivering the budget speech in the House of Commons.

Toll-Free Information Line

Budget information will be available through the Government of Canada toll-free information line on May 2, 2006, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. EDT, and on subsequent weekdays, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EDT (across Canada):

1-800-O-Canada (1-800-622-6232)
TTY: 1-800-926-9105 (telecommunications device for the speech and hearing impaired/deaf)

Printed Documents

Printed copies of The Budget Plan will cost $26.75, including GST. The order form may be downloaded from the Department of Finance website at www.fin.gc.ca/subs/subse.html. Copies of The Budget Speech, The Budget in Brief and other budget documents will be available free of charge by calling 1 800 O-Canada or from the Department’s Distribution Centre:

Distribution Centre 
Department of Finance

Room P-135, West Tower

300 Laurier Ave. W

Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G5

Phone: (613) 995-2855

Fax: (613) 996-0518

E-mail: services-distribution@fin.gc.ca