Federal Government Departments and Agencies
involved with social programs

 

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

HOME PAGE

Food Security Bureau

Canada's Action Plan for Food Security (PDF file - 8.5MB, 60 pages)
1998
 

Auditor-General's Office

HOME PAGE

What's New

Reports and Publications
- incl. links to : Latest Audit Reports - Reports to Parliament - Reports to Northern Legislative Assemblies - Other Audits - Audit Methodology

Reports to Parliament by Topic:
(selected topics below - click the link above to access all topics)
* Human Rights
* Income Security
* Housing

NOTE: you can also view all reports of the Auditor General by Federal Institution or by Year (back to 1981)

Media Centre
- incl. links to : News Releases - Media Statements - Statements to House of Commons Committees - Statements to Senate Committees - Statements to Territorial Legislative Assembly Committees - Speeches

Selected reports:

October 2007 Report of the Auditor General of Canada
Matters of Special Importance
Chapter 1 — Safeguarding Government Information and Assets in Contracting
Chapter 2 — Management and Control Practices in Three Small Entities
Chapter 3 — Inuvialuit Final Agreement
Chapter 4 — Military Health Care—National Defence
Chapter 5 — Keeping the Border Open and Secure—Canada Border Services Agency
Chapter 6 — Management of the 2006 Census—Statistics Canada
Chapter 7 — Technical Training and Learning—Canada Revenue Agency
NOTE: on the same page as the October 2007 report, you'll also find links to AGO reports released in May and February 2007.

May 2007 Report of the Auditor General of Canada
NOTE: Below you'll find the titles of all seven chapters, but I've only provided links to chapter 2;
click on the link above for links to all chapters and their corresponding news releases in HTML and PDF format.
- also includes links to the February 2007 Auditor-General's Status Report

Chapter 1. Use of Acquisition and Travel Cards
Chapter 2. Federal Loans and Grants for Post-Secondary Education—Human Resources and Social Development Canada and Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation
(Excerpts)
"The federal government has said that Canada's international competitiveness depends on having an educated and skilled labour force. To improve access to higher education is the main objective of both the Canada Student Loans Program and the Foundation. To this end, HRSDC loaned $1.9 billion to some 350,000 post-secondary students in 2005–06 and awarded 78,500 grants amounting to about $129 million. In 2006 the Foundation awarded about $298 million in Millennium Bursaries to some 100,000 students and over $40 million in Access Bursaries to more than 20,000 students. "
"Financial assistance programs for post-secondary students are managed well"
Chapter 3. Human Resources Management—Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
Chapter 4. Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization—Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Chapter 5. Managing the Delivery of Legal Services to Government—Department of Justice Canada
Chapter 6. Modernizing the NORAD System in Canada—National Defence
Chapter 7. Management of Forensic Laboratory Services—Royal Canadian Mounted Police

2006 November Report of the Auditor General of Canada
Matters of Special Importance—2006
An Overview of the Federal Government's Expenditure Management System
Chapter 1—Expenditure Management System at the Government Centre
Chapter 2—Expenditure Management System in Departments
Chapter 3—Large Information Technology Projects
Chapter 4—Proper Conduct of Public Business—Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Agencies
Chapter 5—Relocating Members of the Canadian Forces, RCMP, and Federal Public Service
Chapter 6 : Old Age Security - Human Resources and Social Development Canada and Service Canada
"(...)Human Resources and Social Development Canada and Service Canada have improved seniors' access to program benefits by simplifying the application process and by implementing initiatives to increase the take-up of GIS. However, the organizations lack adequate information on these and other aspects of their service to clients, and do not give Parliament a complete picture of program performance.
Chapter 7—Federal Participation in the British Columbia Treaty Process—Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Chapter 8—Allocating Funds to Regulatory Programs—Health Canada
Chapter 9—Pension and Insurance Administration—Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Chapter 10—Award and Management of a Health Benefits Contract—Public Works and Government Services Canada and Health Canada
Chapter 11—Protection of Public Assets—Office of the Correctional Investigator
Chapter 12—Role of Federally Appointed Board Members—Sustainable Development Technology Canada

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2006 Report of the Auditor General of Canada - May 2006
- go to the link above to download small PDF files for each of the following chapters
NOTE: because of the social program focus of Canadian Social Research Links, the only chapter that's hyperlinked below is Chapter 5, because it deals with First Nations, which is one of the thematic pages of this site
A Message from the Auditor General of Canada
Chapter 1 — Managing Government: Financial Information
Chapter 2 — National Defence—Military Recruiting and Retention
Chapter 3 — National Defence—NATO Flying Training in Canada
Chapter 4 — Canadian Firearms Program
Chapter 5 — Management of Programs for First Nations
Chapter 6 — Management of Voted Grants and Contributions
Chapter 7 — Acquisition of Leased Office Space
Chapter 8 — Canada Revenue Agency—Collection of Tax Debts
Government Decisions Limited Parliament's Control of Public Spending

HOME PAGE
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) ensures the security and prosperity of Canada by managing the access of people and goods to and from Canada.

HOME PAGE

Site Map

Canada Pension Plan Pensionable Earnings Ceiling for 2006 up to $42,100
November 2, 2005
- includes, for 2006, maximum pensionable earnings, the basic exemption and employer/employee contribution rates

Income Statistics
"The annual Income Statistics reports -- formerly called Taxation Statistics -- use tables of data to create a profile of Canadian taxpayers. The reports use data from personal tax returns filed two years earlier. For example, the 2002 edition analyzes returns from the 2000 tax year, which had to be filed by the end of April 2001.
As many clients have requested, we publish two separate reports:
Final Statistics - Sample Data: Produced since the 1940s, this report presents detailed profiles of Canadian taxfilers based on a stratified random sample of individual tax returns. This report contains Tables 1 to 12, which is the complete series.
Interim Statistics - Universe Data: This report contains preliminary statistics based on the universe of all returns filed and processed during a given tax year."

Child and Family Benefits Page
 - Information about the Canada Child Tax Benefit and the National Child Benefit. 
- Also includes information concerning related provincial and territorial programs administered by the Canada Revenue Agency: Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit - BC Family Bonus - New Brunswick Child Tax Benefit - Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit - Northwest Territories Child Benefit - Nova Scotia Child Benefit - Nunavut Child Benefit - Saskatchewan Child Benefit - Yukon Child Benefit. 
- From the website of the Canada Revenue Agency - formerly Revenue Canada

Child and Family Benefits Calculator
Calculate how much your family is entitled to receive under the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) and related provincial/territorial programs

Your Canada Child Tax Benefit for the period from July 2005 to June 2006 (PDF file - 192K, 28 pages)
(including related provincial and territorial child benefits and credits)
This Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) guide to the federal Child Tax Benefit (CTB) includes information (in simple question-and-answer format) about eligibility conditions, benefits and related CTB issues. It also includes similar information on the following child benefits and credits launched under the Federal-Provincial-Territorial National Child Benefit initiative:
- Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit
- BC Family Bonus
- New Brunswick Child Tax Benefit
- Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit
- Northwest Territories Child Benefit
- Nova Scotia Child Benefit
- Nunavut Child Benefit
- Saskatchewan Child Benefit
- Yukon Child Benefit
NOTE: these are some of the provincial-territorial initiatives that are wholly or partly funded* by what many in the Canadian social advocacy community call the "NCB(S) Clawback". This refers to the practise in most jurisdictions (at least in the early stages of the National Child Benefit initiative) of reducing the welfare entitlement of families with children by an amount equal to the federal child tax benefit those families receive. Several jurisdictions have stopped reducing welfare benefits by the value of any increases to the child benefit supplement.
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(*except for New Brunswick, where program funding is entirely from the provincial treasury
because that province has not reduced welfare rates for families since the National Child Benefit was launched in the summer of 1998)
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Canada Child Tax Benefit FAQs : Calculation and payment information

People with disabilities
"...easy access to publications and forms dealing with tax credits, benefits, and services for people with disabilities"

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation is Canada’s national housing agency. Established as a government-owned corporation in 1946 to address Canada’s post-war housing shortage, the agency has grown into a major national institution. CMHC is Canada’s premier provider of mortgage loan insurance, mortgage-backed securities, housing policy and programs, and housing research

Site map - on one page, everything that's on this enormous website...

CMHC for Consumers --- incl. links to : Buying a Home * Mortgage Loan Insurance * Renting a Home * Maintaining a Home * Renovating a Home * Programs & Financial Assistance (residential rehabilitation, emergency repair, home adaptation for seniors, etc.)

CMHC for Housing Industry Professionals and Community Groups --- CMHC contributes to the well-being of the housing sector by offering : Best practices in housing construction and design * Housing market trends and demographics * A wide variety of programs & financial assistance * Affordable housing strategies.

CMHC for Housing Finance Clients and International Clients --- CMHC is your proven business partner and strives to provide our housing finance clients with : Innovative mortgage loan insurance products & services * Effective default management and claims payment * Offering housing solutions to help countries around the world build better housing systems * Assisting Canadian companies to export goods and services.

Aboriginal --- Browse by Topic : On-Reserve, Off-Reserve and Northern Housing

CMHC Research Report Listings by Subject
- links to PDF files consisting of collections of reports that you can order from CMHC organized by subject, including Affordable Housing - Cooperative Housing - Healthy Housing - Homeless - Housing and Women - Housing for Older Canadians - Housing for Persons with Disabilities - Housing Rehabilitation - Self-Help Housing - Social Housing - more...

Federal, Provincial and Territorial Agreements on Affordable Housing

Canada's New Government Commits $526 Million
to Combat Homelessness and Extend Funding for Renovation Programs
December 19, 2006
Today, the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, announced $526 million for the new Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS), a strategy aimed at combating homelessness in communities across Canada and extending CMHC's renovation programs. The new Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) will be funded at $270 million over two years.

NOTE: for links to more info on affordable housing and homelessness, see the Canadian Social Research Links Homelessness and Housing page.

HOME PAGE
"Canadian Heritage is responsible for national policies and programs that promote Canadian content, foster cultural participation, active citizenship and participation in Canada's civic life, and strengthen connections among Canadians."
- incl. links to : A to Z Index - Arts and Culture - Citizenship and Identity - Diversity and Multiculturalism - International - Sport - Youth - The Department - About us - What's new - Application Forms - Funding Programs - Legislation - Organizational View - Publications - Regional Offices - Agencies and Corporations

What's New
Aboriginal Peoples' Program
Community Partnerships Program

Human Rights in Canada
- incl. links to : Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Guide to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Canada's Reports to UN Human Rights - Conventions and Related Official Documents - Special Themes: Tools for Researchers [Aboriginal Peoples, Persons with Disabilities] - Did you know? - Grants and Contributions Program

Human Rights Program
- Links to other Human Rights websites - excellent collection - 70+ links!
- Racism. Stop it!

Minister's Speech at the Association for Canadian Studies Conference on "Canadian Rights and Freedoms: 20 Years Under the Charter"
Ottawa, April 18, 2002
"I believe that the duty to preserve fundamental rights and freedoms in Canada is not exclusive to the courts. It is first and foremost the responsibility of all citizens, Parliament and the Government." (Minister Martin Cauchon)
Source : Department of Justice

Canada and the International Human Rights System - links to : Canada and the International Human Rights System: an Introduction - Canada's Reports on United Nations Conventions  and Other Official Documents - Special themes: Tools for Researchers- World Conference Against Racism - Glossary of UN Terms - Other On-line Sources of Human Rights Information
Here are a few samples of the reports and covenants you'll find on this site...
Core Document to accompany all of Canada's Reports. Basic reference document on Canada's political system for use by United Nations Human Rights Committees reviewing Canada's reports.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights - Adopted and proclaimed by the UN general Assembly on December 10, 1948. Complete text.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) - Ratified by Canada in May 1976. Complete text of the Covenant, of the first optional protocol and of the views of the Committee on the merit of communications against Canada and Canada's Fourth Report and the UN Committee conclusions on this report.

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESC). Ratified by Canada in May 1976. Complete text of the Covenant, Canada's Third Report and the UN Committee conclusions on this report.

The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). Ratified by Canada in October 1970. Complete text of the Convention, Canada's two most recent reports and the UN Committee conclusions on these reports.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Ratified by Canada in December 1991. Complete text of the Convention, Canada's first report and the UN Committee conclusions on this report.

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Ratified by Canada in December 1981. Complete text of the Convention, Canada's fourth report and the UN
Committee's conclusions on this report.

Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT).Ratified by Canada in June 1987. Complete text of the Convention.

Canadian International Development Agency

HOME PAGE
CIDA’s aim is to reduce poverty, promote human rights, and increase sustainable development. CIDA was established in 1968 to administer the bulk of Canada’s official development assistance (ODA) program. The measure of its success lies in its contribution to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Canada’s broader international policy objectives.

Canada and the Millennium Development Goals

Canadian Transportation Agency

HOME PAGE

Accessible Transportation

HOME PAGE

Publications - Browse this list for dozens of key CIC publications, from policy manuals and operating memoranda, to legislation and information pamphlets

 

The Canadian Immigration System: An Overview (PDF file - 283K, 21 pages) March 2007 Workshop on German and European Migration and Immigration Policy from a Transatlantic Perspective : Challenge for the 21st Century By Geneviève Bouchard - Powerpoint presentation, includes historical info, current situation, stats, policy challenges, potential solutions Source: Institute for Research on Public Policy

Sample content from the CIC website:

Citizenship and Immigration Minister tables the
2006 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration
OTTAWA, October 31, 2006 — The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, today tabled the 2006 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration. The report outlines Canada’s initiatives over the past year to attract and welcome newcomers, and provides a projection of the number of people expected to become permanent residents in 2007.
- incl. a backgrounder with highlights

Complete report:

Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration, 2006
This report is divided into seven sections.
Section 1 presents an overview of the current context of Canada’s immigration program, a review of some of the key challenges facing CIC and the initiatives the Department has developed in response. This section also provides a summary of Canada’s immigration levels plan for 2007.
Section 2 focuses on CIC’s partnerships with the provinces and territories. It outlines the bilateral agreements currently in force between the federal and provincial/territorial governments and describes major joint initiatives.
Section 3 summarizes activities and initiatives in relation to the selection of permanent and temporary residents. It also provides key statistics relating to permanent and temporary residents admitted in 2005.
Section 4 outlines Canada’s commitment to its humanitarian traditions and to the protection of refugees and others in need of protection and resettlement, including a statistical overview of the refugees and protected persons admitted in 2005.
Section 5 addresses settlement and resettlement programs, special initiatives to facilitate the economic and social integration of newcomers, and activities relating to the promotion of Canadian citizenship.
Section 6 describes CIC’s policy framework for GBA, reports on key GBA activities, and provides a statistical overview of gender differences in relation to key immigration statistics.
Section 7 offers concluding remarks.

Facts and Figures 2005
Immigration Overview:
Permanent and Temporary Residents
August 18, 2006
[PDF version - 2.3MB, 122 pages]
"Facts and Figures 2005: Immigration Overview—Permanent and Temporary Residents presents the annual intake of permanent residents by category of immigration and of temporary residents by primary status from 1980 to 2005. It also presents the annual December 1 stock of temporary residents in Canada during the same period. The main body of the publication consists of a series of statistical tables and charts covering the ten-year period from 1996 to 2005. The publication is divided into two separate sections, each depicting selected characteristics for the permanent resident population or the temporary resident population during this ten-year period."

Government Welcomes Employment Insurance Premium Reduction for 2006
News Release
November 10, 2005
"Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale and Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Belinda Stronach are pleased with the Employment Insurance (EI) Commission’s setting of the EI premium rate at $1.87 for 2006, a reduction from its current level of $1.95 per $100 of insurable earnings."

Source:
Finance Canada

Immigration Minister Tables the 2005 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration
"OTTAWA, October 31, 2005 — The Honourable Joe Volpe, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced that Canada reached its targeted annual immigration levels for the fifth consecutive year, attracting 235,824 new permanent residents in 2004. The details on the immigration levels reached, as well as the Department’s activities in 2004 to attract and welcome newcomers, are outlined in the Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration tabled today."

Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration — 2005
HTML
PDF (236 K)

Departmental Performance Report for the period ending March 31, 2005
HTML
PDF (791 K)

Facts and Figures 2004
Immigration Overview:
Permanent and Temporary Residents
August 4, 2005
"Facts and Figures 2004: Immigration Overview – Permanent and Temporary Residents presents the annual intake of permanent and temporary residents to Canada from 1980 to 2004, as well as the annual December 1 stock of temporary residents in Canada during this period. The main body of the publication consists of a series of statistical tables and charts covering the ten-year period from 1995 to 2004. The publication is divided into two separate sections, each depicting selected characteristics for the permanent resident population or the temporary resident population during this ten-year period."
Source:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Notes for an Address by the Honourable Judy Sgro, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration at the Annual General Meeting of COSTI - Canada's Immigration Program: Charting a New Course, Toronto
March 15, 2004

The Monitor - Winter 2004
"The Monitor is an on-line newsletter posted quarterly by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. It features timely statistics on citizenship and immigration trends."
In This Issue…
Permanent Residents - Year-to-date totals, source countries and intended destination in Canada.
("Canada welcomed 63,127 new permanent residents (principal applicants, spouses and dependants) in the third quarter of 2003 (see table 1), an increase of almost 20% in comparison with the same quarter of 2002. This brought the year-to-date total to 167,598, representing 76% of the lower end of the 220,000 to 245,000 range established in the Immigration Plan for 2003.")
Foreign Workers - Skill levels, source countries and intended destination for foreign workers entering Canada during the third quarter of 2003.
Foreign Students - Levels of study, source countries and intended destination for foreign students enrolled in educational programs of more than six months.
Citizenship - Top source countries for people granted Canadian citizenship during the third quarter of 2003.
The First Six Months in Canada: The Importance of Family and Friends
- Feature Article : Initial findings from the Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada describing first steps towards settlement in Canada in terms of housing, health services, training and employment.

Previous Issues of The Monitor - links to 3 earlier issues in 2003

Permanent Resident Card : Status Report
February 6, 2004
"Citizenship and Immigration Canada is pleased to report that the implementation of the permanent resident (PR) card is proceeding according to schedule, with more than 900 000 cards produced to date. The PR card replaces the paper IMM 1000 Record of Landing document and is the proof-of-status document required by permanent residents seeking to re-enter Canada on a commercial carrier (airplane, boat, train or bus). A permanent resident is someone who has been allowed to enter Canada as an immigrant but who has not become a Canadian citizen."

From Citizenship and Immigration Canada : October 10, 2003 Citizenship and Immigration Canada: Launching Canada's Debate on Better Identity Cards and Biometrics - Op-ed by the Honourable Denis Coderre, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration October 8, 2003 Citizenship and Immigration Canada: Notes for an Address by the Honourable Denis Coderre, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to the "Forum on Biometrics: Applications and Implications for Citizenship and Immigration" October 7, 2003 Citizenship and Immigration Canada: Support for Biometrics to Counter Identity Fraud Remains Strong Among Canadians Minister Announces Forum on Document Integrity and Biometrics The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada will host a Forum entitled Biometrics: Implications and Applications for Citizenship and Immigration on October 7 and 8, 2003, in Ottawa. "The Forum will bring together some 100 experts, scholars, non-governmental organizations, private-sector associations, and public policy and opinion leaders. They will consider the relative advantages and disadvantages of improving the integrity and security of existing documents or other options such as a national identity card. (...) The Forum will complement the work of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, which is currently examining the issue of a national identity card. The Forum will be open to the media, and Canadians can consult the Forum's web site or call the following toll-free numbers (1-800-275-5129 and TTY-1-800-465-7735) for additional information." English Forum: Biometrics: Implications and Applications for Citizenship and Immigration French Forum: Biométrie : incidences et applications pour la citoyenneté et l'immigration Related Links: Parliamentary Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration - scroll to the bottom of this page to see the reports of this Committee during the current session of Parliament, including a one-pager inviting comments on a national identity card Interim Privacy Commissioner questions merit of a national ID card (September 18, 2003) Source: [ Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada ] National Identity Cards in Canada: The Next Step in the Fight Against Terrorism? - from Mapleleafweb Canadian Bar Association (CBA) Cautions Against Use of National ID Cards News Release October 2, 2003 "The Canadian Bar Association says Canadians should be wary of government proposals to introduce a national identity card without first having a thorough, national debate on what Canada’s national identity policy should be." CBA Submission on National Identity Card Proposal (PDF file - 230K, 25 pages) - Submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration Source: Canadian Bar association

Ministers agree that immigration is key to Canada's future :
Federal-Provincial-Territorial Meeting of Ministers responsible for Immigration
Victoria, British Columbia - January 21-22, 2004
"Victoria, January 22, 2004 -- Federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for immigration reaffirmed today the importance of attracting skilled and knowledgeable immigrants to address Canada’s demographic changes and labour market needs."
Source:
Canadian Intergovernmental
Conference Secretariat

Related Links (Citizenship and Immigration Canada)
- links to 10 files with related content, including information about federal-provincial-territorial agreements on immigration, the 2001 census and various statistics concerning immigration.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada: Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Immigration in Victoria on January 21 and 22
Media Advisory
January 16, 2004
"The federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for immigration will meet in Victoria on January 21-22, 2004. The ministers will address many issues of mutual interest, including strategies that could facilitate greater regional distribution of the benefits of immigration."

Facts and Figures 2002
Immigration Overview
July 2003
- incl. links to an extensive collection of recent and historical immigration statistics, plus immigration profiles for the major immigration centres ( Montréal - Toronto - Vancouver) and statistics for family class, refugee class, business class, skilled workers, provincial nominees and other class.

The Monitor - Summer 2003
June 26, 2003
- an on-line quarterly newsletter from Citizenship and Immigration Canada. It features timely statistics on key movements in Canada.
"In This Issue...

New Immigrants : See how many people immigrated to Canada in the first quarter of 2003. Read about countries of origin and destinations in Canada.
Foreign Workers : Find statistics on foreign workers' countries of origin and skill levels. Read about changes in recorded foreign-worker flows to various parts of Canada.
Foreign Students : See how the implementation of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act has affected recorded foreign-student flows. Find countries of origin and levels of study.
Citizenship : Read about citizenship grants in the first quarter of 2003.
Feature Article:
Immigrants in Canada: Census 2001 Highlights --- Find out about Canada's immigrant population at thetime of the 2001 Census, including the latest data on numbers, age, and languages spoken at home. See statistics on immigrants' employment and earnings.
Full Report (PDF Version - 1.4MB, 15 pages)

The Monitor - Spring 2003 (first issue) - incl. links to : Foreign Student Trends 1990-2001 - Immigration Levels for 2002 - Measurement of Foreign Worker Flows - Recent U.S. Foreign Worker Trends - Measurement of Foreign Student Flows - Citizenship Grants in 2002

Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)
"The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act will become law on June 28, 2002. This modern and balanced legislation replaces the 25-year-old Immigration Act. It recognizes the many contributions that immigrants and refugees make to Canada; encourages workers with flexible skills to choose Canada; and helps families reunite more quickly..."
- incl. links to : How the Act Affects You - Becoming the Law: The Latest News - The New Act and Regulations: Key Reference Material - Background Information (history of IRPA from its beginning as "Bill C-11" to today).

Gender-based Analysis Chart for Bill C-11, Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
February 25, 2002
"...key elements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and their potential differential impacts on men and women, and outlines the follow-up activities required to monitor developments over time."
Source : Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Pursuing Canada's Commitment to Immigration: The Immigration Plan for 2002
October 2001
Publication

Minister Tables Immigration Levels
Press Release
February 8, 2001
- includes a detailed backgrounder on the multi-year planning process

Finance Canada

HOME PAGE

Site map- All on one page

What's New

Structure and Role of the Department

Transfers to Provinces and Territories Since April 2004, federal transfer payments to provinces and territories for health services are made under the Canada Health Transfer, while those for post-secondary education and social assistance and services are made under the Canada Social Transfer. For information about : Federal Transfers to Provinces and Territories - Canada Health Transfer - Canada Social Transfer - Equalization - Federal Support for Early Childhood Development Early Learning and Childcare - much more, go to the Canadian Social Research Links Canada Assistance Plan/Canada Health and Social Transfer /Canada Social Transfer Resources page.

Selected Finance Canada site content:

Canada’s Government Delivers Broad-Based Tax Relief for Individuals, Families and Businesses
News Release
October 30, 2007
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today presented the Government’s 2007 Economic Statement, which proposes broad-based tax relief for all Canadians, including a further reduction of the goods and services tax (GST).

Economic Statement 2007: Strong Leadership. A Better Canada
October 30, 2007
Table of contents:
* Overview * Speech * Introduction
* Chapters:
1. Recent Economic Developments and Prospects
2. Fiscal Projections
3. Broad-Based Tax Reductions for Canadians
Annex
Tax Measures: Supplementary Information and Notices of Ways and Means Motions
* Notices of Ways and Means Motions

Overview
"...bold new steps to build a better Canada:
* Reducing taxes further for Canadians, including a further reduction in the goods and services tax (GST).
* Establishing a new era of declining business taxation.
* Reducing the federal debt by $10 billion this year."

Related links:

Government proposes $60B in tax cuts, with further GST drop
October 30, 2007
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has tabled a motion that calls for $60 billion in tax cuts over the next five years, including a further cut in the GST to five per cent, effective Jan. 1. News of the GST cut came in an economic statement delivered Tuesday afternoon by Flaherty. Normally, the statement contains little more than an update on the government's fiscal position. Not this time.
Source:
CBC

Flaherty offers little to working families
October 30, 2007
Ottawa — Finance Minister Flaherty is once again promising billions more in tax cuts which will provide little lasting benefit to working families, says CUPE National President Paul Moist.
Source:
Canadian Union of Public Employees

Related Web/News/Blog links:

Google Search Results Links - always current results!
Using the following search terms (without the quote marks):
"Economic Statement 2007, Canada"
- Web search results page
- News search results page
- Blog Search Results page
Source:
Google.ca

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Canada’s New Government Introduces Draft Legislative
Proposals to Implement the Registered Disability Savings Plan
October 2, 2007
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, and the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today released draft legislative proposals to implement the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) announced in Budget 2007.
(...)
RDSPs are being introduced in response to the recommendations of the Minister of Finance’s Expert Panel on Financial Security for Children with Severe Disabilities, which tabled its report in December 2006.
(...)
Under the new measure, individuals who qualify for the disability tax credit, or their parents or other legal guardian, will be able to establish an RDSP. RDSPs will be eligible to receive payments of the new Canada Disability Savings Grants (CDSGs) and, for low- and modest-income beneficiaries, Canada Disability Savings Bonds (CDSBs).
(...)
Interested parties are invited to provide comments in writing on the draft legislative proposals. Comments can be sent jointly to the Tax Policy Branch, Department of Finance and the Office of Disability Issues, Human Resources and Social Development Canada at 140 O’Connor Street, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0G5 on or before October 23, 2007. Following this consultation period, the Government intends to introduce legislation, including regulations under the Canada Disability Savings Act, to implement the program as quickly as possible.

Related Document:

Legislative Proposals, Explanatory Notes and
Overview Relating to Registered Disability Savings Plans

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Canada’s New Government Continues to Reduce Taxes for All Canadians
October 2, 2007
"(...)Minister Flaherty today released draft legislation designed to implement tax measures proposed in Budget 2007 but not included in the Budget Implementation Act, 2007, which received Royal Assent on June 22, 2007. The legislation released today introduces a new Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB)...
(...)
The legislative proposals are being released in draft form so taxpayers and their advisors will have an opportunity to consider and comment on them before they are introduced in Parliament. Detailed explanatory notes on the proposals are also being released with the draft amendments.

Comments on the proposals are requested by October 23, 2007. Once the consultation period is over, the Government will work toward introducing these measures in Parliament at the earliest opportunity.

Related Document:

* Legislative Proposals and Explanatory Notes
to Implement Remaining Budget 2007 Tax Measures
NOTE: the draft legislation concerning the WITB is on pages 72-77 of the PDF file, and the detailed explanatory notes are on pages 235-245.

Related link:

The Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB) and Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP):
With the Legislation unveiled, it is time to be heard
By John Stapleton
October 6, 2007
"(...) The Budget bills are important and they deserve discussion and comment. A very small window has been created to allow Canadians to respond. Download the Budget documents and the explanations. Read them carefully and make a submission by October 23, 2007. It is a unique opportunity for your voice to be heard by Members of Parliament, their staff and by the Public Service.

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Beginning Today Canada’s New Government Is Providing
Funding to the Provinces and Territories to Restore Fiscal Balance
News Release
June 28, 2007
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, confirmed that with the passage of Bill C-52, $39 billion in new funding over the next seven years will start flowing to the provinces and territories today.

Some context?

The following link takes you to Finance Canada's detailed and up-to-date presentation on federal transfers to provinces and territories for health and social programs; the whole section is worth exploring, but the link to the Equalization section is active so you can access information on how equalization works and the changes implemented by the 2007 federal budget.

Federal Transfers to Provinces and Territories
- incl. links to info about : Major Federal Transfers - Federal Transfers to Provinces and Territories - The Canada Health Transfer and the Canada Social Transfer - Equalization and Territorial Formula Financing - Other Transfers - Fiscal Balance - Multimedia - Related Links - Archive

Source:
Department of Finance Canada

Related links:

Equalization: Atlantic discord and federal fumbling
June 29
"(...) A serious, independent re-assessment of Canada’s financial arrangements – away from the heat of the present skirmishes – is urgently needed."
Source:
The ChronicleHerald.ca (Halifax)

Google News Search Results : "Equalization Program"

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Making a Strong Canadian Economy Even Stronger
News Release
June 20, 2007
Statement by the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, on behalf of Canada’s New Government at the conclusion of meetings with his provincial and territorial counterparts.

June 12, 2007
Budget Implementation Bill Is Passed in the House of Commons
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, is pleased that key measures proposed in Budget 2007 were passed today by the House of Commons.
- incl. a summary of Budget 2007 measures

Canada’s New Government Funds Key Priorities for Canadians Through Targeted Tax Relief
March 1, 2007
The Department of Finance today released its annual Tax Expenditures and Evaluations report. The report provides details of the economic and social priorities that the Government of Canada funds through targeted federal tax credits and tax reductions. The revenue estimates and projections in the report reflect the substantial tax relief proposed in the Tax Fairness Plan and announced in Budget 2006. In the last year, this amounts to 29 new tax initiatives

Related document:

Tax Expenditures and Evaluations 2006
HTML version
PDF version (719K, 75 pages)

Canada’s New Government Reduces Taxes for Canadian Fishers
February 23, 2007

Canada’s New Government Provides Real Tax Relief for Canadians
February 22, 2007
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, is pleased to announce that the entire $26-billion tax relief package included in Budget 2006 is now law, thereby guaranteeing its benefits for Canadian families, students, workers and seniors. The final budget bill, Bill C-28, has received Royal Assent.

International Monetary Fund Praises Economic Plan of Canada’s New Government
February 13, 2007
News Release
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today welcomed the release of an annual International Monetary Fund (IMF) report, which praises Canada’s strong economic performance, forecasts continued growth and welcomes Advantage Canada, the long-term economic plan of Canada’s New Government.

Related link:

Advantage Canada - Building a Stronger Economy for Canadians

IMF Report:

Canada: 2007Article IV Consultation - Staff Report;
and Public Information Notice on the Executive Board Discussion (PDF file - 1.1MB, 35
February 13, 2007

IMF Executive Board Concludes 2007
Article IV Consultation with Canada
Public Information Notice No. 07/18
February 13, 2007
On January 12, 2007, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Canada.

February 7, 2007
Canada’s New Government Launches Nationwide Pre-Budget Consultations
"The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today launched online consultations, giving Canadians from coast to coast to coast an opportunity to participate in the development of Budget 2007. Canada’s New Government held federal online consultations for the first time during the development of last year’s budget."11
- includes an invitation by the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, to Pre-Budget Web Consultations

Related Link:

Online Pre-Budget Consultations for Budget 2007
NOTE this consultation ends at midnight on February 28, 2007.

Remarks by the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance
January 30

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Canada’s New Government Is Providing Real Tax Relief for Canadians
News Release
December 22, 2006
Canadian families, students, workers and seniors will be able to keep more of their hard-earned money in 2006 and 2007. Canada’s New Government is providing substantial and immediate tax relief in every way the government collects taxes.
- includes a summary of all federal tax relief measures for 2006 and 2007

Canada's New Government Commits $526 Million
to Combat Homelessness and Extend Funding for Renovation Programs
December 19, 2006
Today, the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, announced $526 million for the new Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS), a strategy aimed at combating homelessness in communities across Canada and extending CMHC's renovation programs. The new Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) will be funded at $270 million over two years.

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Canada's New Government Establishes
Program Eligibility for the Children's Fitness Tax Credit
News Release
December 19, 2006
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today released guidelines on the Children's Fitness Tax Credit, which is scheduled to become effective on January 1, 2007.The Minister confirmed that as recommended by the Expert Panel for the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit, the definition of eligible programs will support children’s participation in all programs that significantly contribute to their fitness. In addition, the Minister indicated that substantial additional support would be provided to children eligible for the disability tax credit to recognize the unique barriers they face in becoming more active.
- includes a backgrounder with more detailed info

Minister Flaherty Announces New
Collaborative Steps With Provincial and Territorial Finance Ministers
News Release
December 15, 2006
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, issued the following statement today at the conclusion of his meeting with provincial and territorial counterparts: “We had a productive meeting, a healthy exchange of views, and made considerable progress on the issues before us. There was a great deal of support for the priorities set out in the Advantage Canada plan.

Canada's New Government Receives Recommendations
on Savings Measures to Help Children With Severe Disabilities
News Release
December 12, 2006
"(..) Government must better enable parents to set aside funds today to financially support a child with a severe disability, when they are no longer able to provide support."

Complete report:

A New Beginning -
The Report of the Minister of Finance's Expert Panel on Financial Security for Children with Severe Disabilities
December 2006
HTML version
PDF version (325K, 82 pages)
Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements * Introduction * The Mandate of the Panel * The Composition of the Panel * The Constitutional Constraints * The Fiscal Policy Framework * Plan Concepts * Plan Definitions and Details * Federal-Provincial Issues * Costing the Plan * Future Directions * Recommendations * Appendices (incl. the July 31/06 news release announcing the appointment of a "Panel to Help Children with Severe Disabilities" and the Terms of Reference for the Panel)

Related Link:

Report recommends tax break for parents of disabled children
December 13, 2006
Parents of severely disabled children should be able to set aside up to $200,000 tax free for their care, in the same manner that parents can now create savings plans for the higher education of their children, a panel set up by the federal Finance Minister to investigate the issue has concluded. In a report presented yesterday to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, the group also calls on Ottawa to provide parents of children with severe disabilities with cash grants of at least $1,000 annually over 20 years, and to double those payments to low-income families.
Source:
The Globe and Mail

Canada's New Government Reduces
Debt Burden to Lowest Level in Quarter Century
News Release
November 28, 2006
"The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today tabled in Parliament the Debt Management Report for 2005–06, which reports that Canada’s New Government has eliminated $13.2 billion in federal debt. 'This achievement will yield interest savings of approximately $650 million each and every year,' said Minister Flaherty. 'That’s money that can be used to provide priority programs or further reduce the tax burden on Canadian families and businesses.' The Government has reduced its debt to $481.5 billion from its peak of $562.9 billion in 1996–97, a reduction of $81.4 billion. Canada’s net debt burden is the lowest in the G7 and is well below the average of countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development."

Complete report:

Debt Management Report for 2005–06
HTML
PDF version - 1.02MB, 91 pages
Outlines the key elements of current federal debt management strategy and describes various strategic and operational aspects of the government's debt program and cash management activities over the past year

Debt Management reports for Earlier Fiscal years - back to 1997

Related Links:

Annual Financial Report of the Government of Canada
Fiscal Year 2005–2006
September 2006
PDF version - 663K, 31 pages
HTML version
- Table of Contents, incl. links to : Report Highlights - Budgetary Revenues - Total Expenses - The Budgetary Balance and Financial Source/Requirement - Federal Debt - Comparison of Actual Budgetary Outcomes to Budget Estimates -Report of the Auditor General on the Condensed Financial Statements of the Government of Canada - Condensed Financial Statements of the Government of Canada

Annual Financial Reports for Earlier Fiscal Years - back to 1995-96

Fiscal Reference Tables, September 2006
HTML version
PDF version - 348K, 64 pages
The Fiscal Reference Tables provide annual data on the financial position of the federal and provincial governments. The data are presented on both a Public Accounts basis—corresponding to the accounting conventions used to report financial information to the respective legislatures—as well as on a National Accounts basis—as prepared by Statistics Canada and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Fiscal Reference Tables for Earlier Years - back to 1996

Source:
Department of Finance Canada

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Canada's New Government Releases Advantage Canada:
An Economic Plan to Eliminate Canada's Net Debt and Further Reduce Taxes
News Release
November 23, 2006
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today released Advantage Canada: Building a Strong Economy for Canadians, a long-term, national economic plan designed to make Canada a true world economic leader. The plan, unveiled along with Minister Flaherty’s Economic and Fiscal Update, features a new national objective to eliminate Canada’s total government net debt in less than a generation and further reduce taxes for all Canadians.
- includes links to:
* The Economic and Fiscal Update 2006 (table of contents, links to all files)
* Advantage Canada - Building a Stronger Economy for Canadians

The Economic and Fiscal Update 2006

Canada's New Government Renews Inflation-Target Agreement With the Bank of Canada
News Release
November 23, 2006
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today announced that as part of its Advantage Canada plan to build a strong economy for Canadians, Canada’s New Government has reached an agreement with the Bank of Canada to renew Canada’s inflation-control target for a further five years to 2011. “Maintaining low, stable and predictable inflation goes right to the bottom line of every household budget,” said Minister Flaherty. “It ensures affordable mortgage rates, allows more families to purchase new homes, secures the value of incomes and keeps the costs of purchases stable."

Source:
Department of Finance Canada

Related Link:

Canada's New Government Launches National
Web-Based Consultations on Advantage Canada Economic Plan
November 24, 2006

November 24, 2006
Online Consultations on the Advantage Canada Plan
"Invitation by the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, to Participate in Advantage Canada Consultations:
To Canadians in every part of this country, I would like to say that I’m looking forward to seeing your ideas on how we can best implement Advantage Canada, our new long-term Plan to build a strong economy for Canadians and secure a better quality of life now and for future generations."

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Canada’s New Government Announces Tax Fairness Plan
October 31, 2006
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance today announced a Tax Fairness Plan for Canadians. The plan will restore balance and fairness to the federal tax system by creating a level playing field between income trusts and corporations.

Related documents:

Backgrounder
HTML version
PDF Version (78K, 12 pages)

Statement by the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance

Notice of Ways and Means Motion to Amend the Income Tax Act

October 4, 2006
More Flexibility to Seniors in the Management of Their Life Income Funds
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today announced that the regulations to immediately remove the requirement to convert federally regulated life income funds (LIFs) to life annuities at age 80 have now come into force. The regulations were published in the Canada Gazette. Seniors have asked for a greater degree of control over their retirement savings and this initiative will help give it to them," stated Minister Flaherty. A LIF is a special registered retirement income fund into which funds from pension plans or other locked-in retirement funds can be transferred.

Canada's New Government cuts wasteful programs,
refocuses spending on priorities, achieves major debt reduction as promised
September 25, 2006

Canada's New Government Is Getting Things Done by Providing Additional Funding for Transit, Housing and Education
September 25, 2006
- includes the following backgrounder:
One-Time Funding to Provinces and Territories --- "The 2005–06 Annual Financial Report of the Government of Canada confirmed the availability of funds to provide for $3.3 billion in federal financial support to help provinces and territories deal with immediate pressures in post-secondary education, affordable housing and public transit, as well as over $320 million in support for international initiatives.

Notice of Ways and Means Motion Tabled
September 25, 2006 - includes a Notice of Ways and Means Motion to amend the Excise Tax Act and a Detailed Proposals on the Elimination of the GST Visitor Rebate Program.

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Canada’s New* Government
Continues to Deliver on Its Tax Relief Plan
News release
August 31, 2006
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today announced that Canada’s new Government is keeping its promise to Canadians by delivering on its Tax Relief Plan. The measures below are part of the Government’s plan to deliver over $20 billion in tax cuts over the next two years, which is more than the last four budgets of the previous government combined. These measures were part of the income tax measures that were proposed in Budget 2006 but not included in the Budget Implementation Act, 2006, which received Royal Assent on June 22, 2006.
These measures are:
* The new Canada Employment Credit.
* The new Textbook Tax Credit.
* The new tax credit for public transit passes.
* The new deduction for tradespeople’s tool expenses.
* A complete exemption for scholarship income received in connection with enrolment at an institution which qualifies the student for the education tax credit.
* A doubling, to $2,000 from $1,000, of the amount on which the pension income credit is calculated.
* An extension of the $500,000 lifetime capital gains exemption, and various intergenerational rollovers, to fishers.
* The new Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit.
* A reduction of the current 12 per cent small business tax rate to 11.5 per cent for 2008 and to 11 per cent thereafter.
* An increase, to $400,000 from $300,000, of the amount that a small business can earn at the small business tax rate, effective January 1, 2007.
* A reduction of the minimum tax on financial institutions.

Related Document

- Legislative Proposals and Explanatory Notes to Implement Remaining Budget 2006 Income Tax Measures

Source:
Department of Finance Canada

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*See Canada's New Government Countdown Contest

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Canada’s New Government Launches National Web-Based Consultations on Fiscal Balance
News Release
August 8, 2006
"The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, on behalf of Canada’s new government, today launched online consultations to give Canadians the opportunity to provide their views on restoring fiscal balance."

The Consultations page:

Online Consultations on
Restoring Fiscal Balance in Canada
- The fiscal balance consultation closed on September 8, 2006

Related Links:

Restoring Fiscal Balance in Canada - from the 2006 federal Budget (May 2)

Consultation on Post-Secondary Education and Training in Canada - (from Human Resources and Social Development Canada)
- The post-secondary education and training consultation closed on September 8, 2006

Restoring Canada’s Fiscal Balance: Consultations on Immediate and Long-Term Funding Support for Infrastructure
- from Infrastructure Canada
- The funding for infrastructure consultation closed on September 8, 2006

Canada's New Government Provides Substantial Tax Relief Beginning July 1
June 30, 2006
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, reminded Canadians of tax changes that will take effect July 1, 2006. "In Budget 2006, Canada’s new government introduced more than $26 billion in tax relief over the next two years, of which over 90 per cent will go to individuals," Minister Flaherty said.
Effective July 1:
* About 655,000 low-income Canadians will be removed from the tax rolls altogether.
* The GST will be reduced to 6 per cent from 7 per cent. This will put almost $9 billion into the pockets of Canadians over the next two years.
* Working Canadians will become eligible for the Canada Employment Credit on up to $500 of annual employment income to help pay the additional costs of employment—costs for things like uniforms, computers or safety gear. Next year, the amount of employment income eligible for the credit will increase to $1,000.
* The lowest personal income tax rate will be permanently reduced to 15.5 per cent.
* The basic personal amount—the amount that an individual can earn without paying federal income tax—will increase each year and remain above previously legislated levels for 2005, 2006 and 2007.
* Canadians who buy monthly transit passes will get a tax credit. A person who buys passes costing $80 a month will receive about $150 a year in federal tax relief. That will save commuters $370 million over the next two years.
* Excise duty on Canadian wine produced with 100 per cent Canadian agricultural products is eliminated, a reduction of 62 cents a litre.
* Excise duties are reduced on the first 75,000 hectolitres of Canadian-produced beer. All Canadian brewers will enjoy excise duty savings of about $2.30 on a 24-pack of 341 ml bottles on their first 2,000 hectolitres of production per year.
* The minimum tax on financial institutions will be modified as of July 1, 2006, which will reduce government revenues by $15 million in 2006–07.

Review Finds Canada Pension Plan Is Financially Sound
News release
June 27, 2006
"Federal and provincial Ministers of Finance, as joint stewards of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), today announced the conclusion of their triennial financial review of the CPP. The review confirms that the CPP is on sound financial footing. "Our analysis suggests that the 9.9 per cent contribution rate will be sufficient to sustain the Plan into the foreseeable future," stated the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance. "We have therefore agreed that the contribution rate will remain unchanged." By providing over 3 million retired Canadians with maximum benefits of up to $844 per month, the CPP represents a key pillar of Canada’s retirement income system. With assets projected to grow to $250 billion in the next 10 years, the Plan has been recognized internationally as an affordable model for securing adequate retirement income in the face of population aging and economic change."
- incl a backgrounder: "Proposed Changes to the Canada Pension Plan"

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Report Says Canada’s Economic Outlook Very Favourable
News Release
June 16, 2006
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today welcomed the release of an annual International Monetary Fund (IMF) report that forecasts continued growth for the Canadian economy. 'I am glad to see the IMF staff highlight how Canada’s macroeconomic and policy performance has continued to ‘outshine’ that of most other industrial countries,' Minister Flaherty said."
Source:
Department of Finance Canada

Complete report:

Canada: 2006 Article IV Consultation—Staff Report;
Staff Supplement; and Public Information Notice on the Executive Board Discussion (PDF file - 1.07MB, 66 pages)
IMF Country Report No. 06/230
June 2006
"Canada’s macroeconomic and policy performance has continued to outshine most other industrial countries and its outlook remains favorable."
[Executive Summary, p.3]

Related Link:

Canada: Selected Issues (PDF file - 648K, 24 pages)
IMF Country Report No. 06/229
June 2006
"background documentation for the periodic consultation with the member country"
- incl. Regional Dimensions of the Canadian Economy- Canadian Inflation Targeting and Macroeconomic Volatility in Retrospect and Prospect - Conclusion and Policy Implications - Efficiency Gains from Reducing the GST Versus Personal Income Taxation in Canada - more..

Source:
Canada and the IMF
[ International Monetary fund ]
"The IMF is an organization of 184 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty."

2006 Indexation Adjustment for Personal Income Tax System
News Release
December 9, 2005
"All personal income tax amounts will be adjusted by 2.2 per cent in 2006 to ensure that inflation does not cause people to pay more income tax.
Restoration of full indexation of the personal income tax system was announced in Budget 2000 and took effect that same year. Since that time, personal income tax amounts have been indexed to inflation every year using Consumer Price Index data, as reported by Statistics Canada."
- includes Backgrounder : How Tax Parameters Are Indexed

The Economic and Fiscal Update
November 14, 2005
Everything you wanted to know about the Economic and Fiscal Update, including:

Economic and Fiscal Update: Strong Growth, Healthy Finances and a New Plan to Promote Long-Term Prosperity
News Release

Flash presentation of Update 2005
- includes 2005 Tax Savings Calculator (Flash v.8 plugin required)

Overview
HTML version
PDF version (157K, 10 pages)

Speech
HTML version
PDF version (89K, 16 pages)

Complete report:

Table of Contents
- select individual chapters or annexes to read in HTML format:
1. Overview
2. Economic Developments and Prospects
3. Canada’s Fiscal Progress
4. Private Sector Five-Year Economic and Fiscal Projections
5. A Plan for Growth and Prosperity
Annexes
1. Risks and Uncertainties in Fiscal Projections
2. Perspective: Long-Term Track Record of Fiscal Forecasting
2.b Details on Differences by Fiscal Year
3. National Accounts–Public Accounts Reconciliation
4. Detailed Descriptions of Tax Measures

Google Web Search Results : "Economic and Fiscal Update, Canada"
Google News search Results : "Economic and Fiscal Update, Canada"
Source:
Google.ca

Also from Finance Canada:

Minister of Finance Tables Notice of Ways and Means Motion for Remaining Budget 2005 Income Tax Measures
November 17, 2005
- Includes a Backgrounder and Notice of Ways and Means Motion to Implement Certain Provisions of the Budget Tabled in Parliament on February 23, 2005.

Minister of Finance Proposes Amendments Concerning the Income Tax Treatment of Certain Expenditures
November 17, 2005
- Includes Backgrounder and Notice of Ways and Means Motion to Amend the Income Tax Act

Proposed GST/HST Amendments Relating to the Financial Services Sector
November 17, 2005
- Includes Legislative Proposals, Draft Regulations and Explanatory Notes Relating to the Excise Tax Act

Treasury Evaluation Program Framework
Describes the objectives and process of the Treasury Evaluation Program (TEP) of the Department of Finance.

Immediate Income Tax Relief: Notice of Ways and Means Motion Tabled to Implement Update 2005 Measures
November 14, 2005
- Includes Notice of Ways and Means Motion and Explanatory Notes

Economic and Fiscal Update: Strong Growth, Healthy Finances and a New Plan to Promote Long-Term Prosperity
November 14, 2005
- includes The Economic and Fiscal Update 2005

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The Economy in Brief - September 2005
"Overview
* In the second quarter of 2005 real gross domestic product (GDP) grew 3.2%, following a 2.1% increase in the first quarter.
* Final domestic demand remained solid, rising 2.9% following a gain of 6.2% in the first quarter. Residential investment rebounded from a first-quarter decline.
* Increased domestic demand was met through domestic production as real imports fell 3.5% after an 11.0% jump in the first quarter. Real exports rose 0.8% following a 5.5% gain in the first quarter.
* The current account registered its 24th consecutive quarterly surplus. It widened by over $5 billion to $18.7 billion or 1.4% of nominal GDP.
* Since the end of 2004 the Canadian economy has created over 137,000 net new jobs, all of them full-time. The unemployment rate remained at 6.8% in August, near its lowest level since 1976."

Source:
Economy in Brief 2005
- includes similar analyses for March and June of 2005 - [ earlier years, back to 1996 ]

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Minister of Finance Releases Draft Legislative Proposals Implementing Remaining Budget 2005 Income Tax Measures
August 15, 2005
"Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale today released a package of draft amendments to the Income Tax Act to implement measures originally proposed in Budget 2005.
These measures include:
* Introducing a new tax credit for adoption expenses such as adoption agency and legal fees.
* Improving the disability tax credit and making it more widely available.
* Further changes to improve the tax treatment of persons with disabilities and those who care for them, for example, by doubling the amount of disability-related and medical expenses that can be claimed by a caregiver, and expanding the list of expenses eligible for the medical expense tax credit and the disability supports deduction.
* Helping agricultural cooperative corporations through a new tax deferral in respect of certain patronage dividends."

Related Documents:
* Legislative Proposals Relating to Certain Income Tax Measures Announced in Budget 2005
* Explanatory Notes to Legislative Proposals Relating to Certain Income Tax Measures Announced in Budget 2005

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Review of Canadian Federal Fiscal Forecasting
Processes and Systems
By Tim O’Neill
June 2005
HTML version
PDF version (764K, 169 pages)

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The Economy in Brief - December 2004
December 23, 2004
Source:
The Economy in Brief 2004
[ Department of Finance Canada ]

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Minister of Finance Welcomes Positive IMF Report on Canada
News Release
December 20, 2004
"Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale welcomed the annual Statement of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Mission on Canada, which was released today. The report lauds Canada, especially its fiscal performance, which it describes as the best among the Group of Seven (G-7) industrialized countries. 'This report is a further vindication of the sacrifices made by Canadians to get our nation’s finances back on track over the past decade,' said Minister Goodale."
Source:
Department of Finance Canada

Related Link:

2005 Article IV Consultation with Canada
Preliminary Conclusions of the IMF Mission
December 1, 2004
"Describes the preliminary findings of IMF staff at the conclusion of certain missions (official staff visits, in most cases to member countries). Missions are undertaken as part of regular (usually annual) consultations under Article IV of the IMF's Articles of Agreement, in the context of a request to use IMF resources (borrow from the IMF), as part of discussions of staff monitored programs, and as part of other staff reviews of economic developments."
[The IMF will release its full report on Canada next year.]

Two observations of relevance to social researchers among these preliminary findings:

"The Employment Insurance system remains an uneasy combination of unemployment insurance and social assistance. Funding the latter function through general revenues would be more efficient and transparent, and every effort should be made to reinforce the insurance principle of the program through experience rating of employers and employees. Care will be needed to resist further eroding the mid-1990s reforms and to ensure that the premium rate can be set at a low rate that balances the system over the cycle and avoids the need for annual adjustments.

Reforms in other social programs could help increase labor utilization and efficiency. Even with recent gains in labor participation, there remains room to further improve labor supply by reducing incentives for early retirement in the public pension system—such as by amending benefit calculations and curbing excessive use of disability benefits—and by lowering "welfare walls" in the social transfer system*."

Source:
International Monetary Fund

*NOTE: "lowering welfare walls in the social transfer system" can of course be interpreted differently, depending on who's doing the interpreting.

Organizations like the IMF, the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development view the welfare wall within an economic framework, i.e., the disincentives that prevent people from leaving welfare. These disincentives include a range of non-cash benefits, generally health-related, that are available to households on welfare but not to low-wage workers' families. (It should be noted - but it often isn't in 'Canada-wide' reports - that this non-cash coverage for welfare households varies considerably among the provinces and territories, each of which is responsible for the design and delivery of its welfare program.) The IMF, World Bank and OECD would reduce the welfare wall to "make work more attractive than welfare" or "to make work pay more than welfare" by reducing or freezing welfare benefits and making it more difficult for households to qualify for welfare in the first place.

On the other hand, we have the social advocacy community - Canadian *and* international - reminding us that the welfare wall grew over the years not because welfare benefits were so generous, but because minimum wages and other employment standards have taken a nosedive since the 1970s. Social justice groups suggest that a better way to reduce that welfare wall would be to improve minimum wages and working conditions, including the extension of special health coverage to everyone in the low-wage sector of the Canadian economy. An increase in welfare dependency isn't generally traceable to an overly-generous system - it's a symptom of dysfunction in the low end of the labour market. It's like saying, "Yeah, the health care system is strained because of the demand, so we'll have to trim back on the health system" (vs. fixing the problems that are causing the increase in demand).
It's the labour market, Stupid.
[End of rant. For now.]

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Speech by the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Finance, to the
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal Challenge and Opportunity in the Canadian Federation
December 14, 2004
Montréal, Quebec

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Minister of Finance Tables Debt Management Report for 2003-04
News Release
December 8, 2004
"Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale today tabled in the House of Commons and the Senate the Government of Canada’s Debt Management Report for fiscal year 2003–04. The report notes that the federal government has reduced its debt to $501.5 billion on a full accrual accounting basis, down $61.4 billion from its peak in 1996–97."
Complete report:
Debt Management Report 2003–2004
HTML version
PDF version (470K, 85 pages)

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Minister of Finance Tables a Notice of Ways and Means Motion to
Implement Budget 2004 Measures
News Release
December 6, 2004
"Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale today tabled in the House of Commons a detailed Notice of Ways and Means Motion to implement measures proposed in Budget 2004. Among others, these measures include:
* introducing income tax relief for Canadian Forces personnel and police deployed to international high-risk operational missions—including additional missions announced on April 14, 2004;
* improving tax fairness for persons with disabilities and those who care for them;
* accelerating to 2005 from 2006 the increase in the small business deduction limit to $300,000;
* extending the carry-forward period for business losses to 10 years;
* eliminating the deductibility of fines and penalties;
* introducing a new regulatory regime for registered charities; and
* reducing the Air Travellers Security Charge."

- incl. links to the following related documents:
* Notice of Ways and Means Motion to implement certain
provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 23, 2004
* Explanatory Notes on Relating to the Air Travellers Security Charge,
the First Nations Good and Services Tax, Income Tax and Other Related Measures

Economic and Fiscal Update: Stronger Growth and Balanced Budgets for Canada
News Release
November 16, 2004
"Stronger economic growth, balanced budgets and improved management of taxpayer dollars were the main messages delivered today by Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale in his first Economic and Fiscal Update presentation to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance."

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The Economic and Fiscal Update 2004
- incl. links to : Overview Pamphlet - Speech - Powerpoint slide presentation used by the Minister
Annexes:
Foreword
1. Canada's Fiscal Progress.
2 - Economic Developments and Prospects.
3