Calgary budget consultations tackle federal fiscal environment
Canadians must be in on process, says Menzies
Federal officials met with a small group of corporate executives, academics and charitable sector leaders in the Calgary round of private, prebudget consultations Tuesday.
“We need to hear some more specific ideas from Canadians about their priorities, and how we can achieve and make the best use of taxpayers dollars in this constrained fiscal environment,” Ted Menzies, the Minister of State for Finance, told reporters before the roundtable.
Although media were not invited to the meeting — moderated by newly elected Calgary Centre MP Joan Crockatt — Tuesday’s presenters included Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers president Dave Collyer, Suncor Energy Inc.’s Bart Demosky, and Greengate Power Corp. executive Micah Libin.
Others on the list included University of Calgary economist Robert Mansell, Crave Cookies and Cupcakes co-founder Carolyne McIn-
Our government’s objective remains to balance the budget by the end of this parliament TED MENZIES, MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE
tyre Jackson, and Jamie Niessen of Volunteer Calgary.
In recent weeks, opposition parties have assailed the Harper government for its handling of the economy and Ottawa’s finances.
The fall economic update projected that the 2012-13 federal deficit will be nearly $7 billion larger than forecast in the March budget, and could prevent the Conservative government from balancing the books until 2016-17.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has maintained his goal is to get the country out of deficit by the next election, expected in 2015.
“Going forward with budget 2013, our government’s objective remains to balance the budget by the end of this parliament,” Menzies said Tuesday.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation noted recently the Harper government has added more than $142 billion to Canada’s national debt since taking office.