Canadian federal budget

In Canada, federal budgets are presented annually by the Government of Canada to identify planned government spending and expected government revenue, and to forecast economic conditions for the upcoming year. They are usually released in February or March, before the start of the fiscal year.

All the Canadian provinces also present budgets. Since provincial finances depend on funds from the federal government, they are usually released after the federal budget.

Budget process

The budget is announced in the House of Commons by the Minister of Finance, who traditionally wears new shoes while doing so.<ref name="lop">Template:Cite web</ref> The Budget is then voted on by the House of Commons. Budgets are a confidence measure, and if the House votes against it the government can fall, as happened to Prime Minister Joe Clark's government in 1980. The governing party strictly enforces party discipline, usually expelling from the party caucus any government Member of Parliament (MP) who votes against the budget. Opposition parties almost always vote against the budget. In cases of minority government, the government has normally had to include major concessions to one of the smaller parties to ensure passage of the budget.

Historically the official opposition used to prepare a complete alternative budget and present this alternative to the Canadian people along with the main budget. In recent years, opposition parties are more likely to pick only certain aspects to criticize. The Reform Party revived this practice for a time, however. A complete alternative budget is today produced each year by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, a non-partisan think-tank.

Traditionally, the budget process was immensely secretive with little consultation. Under Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent, the Finance Minister famously would type the entire budget himself so that no secretary could read it. This secrecy was felt to be needed for inside information could enable individuals to profit from upcoming government decisions. The secrecy also had a large political component, as it would help undermine the response by the opposition.

Under Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and his Finance Minister Paul Martin, this changed considerably. Most of the budget would be released well before its announcement, especially any major changes so as to get feedback from the populace and the market.

The process of creating the budget is a complex one which begins within the working ranks for the Federal Government. Each year, the various departments that make up the Government (for example, Health, Transportation, Foreign Affairs, National Defence, Industry, CRA, etc.) submit what are called 'The Main Estimates' to The Treasury Board Secretariat. These documents identify the planned expenditure of each department, linking these proposed expenses to programs, to objectives and ultimately to the priorities of the current ruling Government. The Treasury Board Secretariat combines these budget estimates and compiles an initial proposed budget. From there, the Cabinet and Prime Minister's Office adjust the budget based on a series of economic, social and political factors. In reality, decisions are usually made with the primary intent of re-election and so often include advantages for key regions and lobby groups.

Following the budget, Parliament (the Canadian Parliament) will pass an Appropriation Act (called the 'Interim Supply') which will allow individual departments to spend 3/12th of their annual budget. (The Government of Canada Fiscal Year runs from April 1 to March 31.) This partial authority enables Parliament to spend more time in examining the Estimates documents. In June, Parliament appropriates the full supply. However, the fiscal calendar was changed in 2025, under Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Summary of budgets

Budget (Unofficial) Subtitle	Fiscal year	Tabled on	Minister of Finance		Initial Budget Implementation Act					Ministry
					Bill	Fate	Votes for<ref group="note" name="TLR">Votes presented are those of the latest reading in the House of Commons</ref>	Vote against<ref group="note" name="TLR" />	Paired votes<ref group="note" name="TLR" />
1988 Canadian federal budget None<ref group="note" name="SER">All budgets tabled during the 33rd Canadian Parliament had the subtitle Securing Economic Renewal on their cover page.</ref>	1988–89	10 February 1988	rowspan=4 Template:Canadian party colour|	Michael Wilson Template:Canadian party colour						24 (Mulroney)
1989 Canadian federal budget None<ref group="note" name="SER"/>	1989–90	27 April 1989
1990 Canadian federal budget None<ref group="note" name="SER"/>	1990–91	20 February 1990
1991 Canadian federal budget None<ref group="note" name="SER"/>	1991–92	26 February 1990
1992 Canadian federal budget None<ref group="note" name="SER"/>	1992–93	25 February 1992	rowspan=2 Template:Canadian party colour|	Don Mazankowski Template:Canadian party colour
1993 Canadian federal budget None<ref group="note" name="SER"/>	1993–94	26 April 1993	C-9		Template:Aye Royal Assent (12 May 1994)<ref>Debates of the House of Commons – 19 April 1994</ref>	Adopted on division
1994 Canadian federal budget None	1994–95	22 February 1994	rowspan=8 Template:Canadian party colour|	Paul Martin Template:Canadian party colour	C-17	Template:Aye Royal Assent (15 June 1994)<ref>Debates of the House of Commons – 31 May 1994</ref>	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar	16	26 (Chrétien)
1995 Canadian federal budget None	1995–96	27 February 1995	C-76		Template:Aye Royal Assent (22 June 1995)<ref>Debates of the House of Commons – 6 June 1995</ref>	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar	28
1996 Canadian federal budget Securing the Future	1996–97	6 March 1996	C-31		Template:Aye Royal Assent (22 June 1995)<ref>Debates of the House of Commons – 27 May 1996</ref>	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar	60
1997 Canadian federal budget Building the Future for Canadians	1997–98	18 February 1997	C-93		Template:Aye Royal Assent (27 April 1997)<ref>Debates of the House of Commons – 22 April 1997</ref>	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar	30
1998 Canadian federal budget A Strong Economy and a Secure Society	1998–99	24 February 1998	C-36		Template:Aye Royal Assent (18 June 1998)<ref>Debates of the House of Commons – 27 May 1998</ref>	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar	12
1999 Canadian federal budget Building today for a better tomorrow	1999–00	16 February 1999	C-71		Template:Aye Royal Assent (17 June 1999)<ref>Debates of the House of Commons – 10 May 1999</ref>	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar	20
2000 Canadian federal budget Better finances, better lives	2000–01	28 February 2000	C-32		Template:Aye Royal Assent (6 June 2000)<ref>Debates of the House of Commons – 6 June 2000</ref>	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar	4
2001 Canadian federal budget Securing progress in an uncertain world	2002–03	10 December 2001	C-49		Template:Aye Royal Assent (27 March 2002)	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar	–
2003 Canadian federal budget Building the Canada We Want	2003–04	18 February 2003	Template:Canadian party colour|	John Manley Template:Canadian party colour	C-28	Template:Aye Royal Assent (19 June 2003)	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar	18
2004 Canadian federal budget New Agenda for Achievement	2004–05	23 March 2004	rowspan=2 Template:Canadian party colour|	Ralph Goodale Template:Canadian party colour	C-30	Template:Aye Royal Assent (14 June 2004)	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar	8	27 (Martin)
2005 Canadian federal budget Delivering on Commitments	2005–06	23 February 2005	C-43		Template:Aye Royal Assent (29 June 2005)	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar	–
2006 Canadian federal budget Focusing on Priorities	2006–07	2 May 2006	rowspan=10 Template:Canadian party colour|	Jim Flaherty Template:Canadian party colour	C-4	Template:Aye Royal Assent (22 June 2006)	colspan="3" Template:N/a	28 (Harper)
2007 Canadian federal budget Aspire to a Stronger, Safer, Better Canada	2007–08	19 March 2007	C-52		Template:Aye Royal Assent (22 June 2007)	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar		10
2008 Canadian federal budget Responsible Leadership	2008–09	26 February 2008	C-50		Template:Aye Royal Assent (18 June 2008)	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar		12
2009 Canadian federal budget Canada's Economic Action Plan	2009–10	7 January 2009	C-10		Template:Aye Royal Assent (12 March 2009)	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar		12
2010 Canadian federal budget Leading the Way on Jobs and Growth	2010–11	4 March 2010	C-12		Template:Aye Royal Assent (12 July 2010)	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar		6
2011 Canadian federal budget A Low-Tax Plan for Jobs and Growth	2011–12	22 March 2011	Template:N/a		Template:Nay Never adopted	colspan="3" Template:N/a
		6 June 2011	C-3		Template:Aye Royal Assent (26 June 2011)	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar		–
2012 Canadian federal budget Jobs, Growth and Long-Term Prosperity	2012–13	29 March 2012	C-19		Template:Aye Royal Assent (29 June 2012)	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar		–
2013 Canadian federal budget Jobs, Growth and Long-Term Prosperity	2013–14	21 March 2013	C-33		Template:Aye Royal Assent (26 June 2013)	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar		–
2014 Canadian federal budget The Road to Balance	2014–15	11 February 2014	C-31		Template:Aye Royal Assent (19 June 2014)	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar		–
2015 Canadian federal budget Strong Leadership	2015–16	21 April 2015	Template:Canadian party colour|	Joe Oliver Template:Canadian party colour	C-15	Template:Aye Royal Assent (23 June 2015)	Template:Composition bar		Template:Composition bar	–
2016 Canadian federal budget Growing the Middle Class	2016–17	22 March 2016	rowspan=4 Template:Canadian party colour|	Bill Morneau Template:Canadian party colour	C-15	Template:Aye Royal Assent (22 June 2016)	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar	–	29 (J. Trudeau)
2017 Canadian federal budget Building a Strong Middle Class	2017–18	22 March 2017	C-44		Template:Aye Royal Assent (22 June 2017)	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar	–
2018 Canadian federal budget Equality + Growth	2018–19	27 February 2018	C-74		Template:Aye Royal Assent (21 June 2018)	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar	–
2019 Canadian federal budget Investing in the Middle Class	2019–20	19 March 2019	C-97		Template:Aye Royal Assent (21 June 2019)	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar	2
2020 Canadian federal budget	2020–21	colspan=4 Template:N/a	Template:Nay Never presented	colspan="3" Template:N/a
2021 Canadian federal budget A Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience	2021–22	19 April 2021	rowspan=4 Template:Canadian party colour|	Chrystia Freeland Template:Canadian party colour	C-30	Template:Aye Royal Assent (29 June 2021)	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar	–
2022 Canadian federal budget A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable	2022–23	7 April 2022	C-19		Template:Aye Royal Assent (23 June 2022)	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar	12
2023 Canadian federal budget A Made-in-Canada Plan: Strong Middle Class, Affordable Economy, Healthy Future	2023–24	28 March 2023	C-47		Template:Aye Royal Assent (22 June 2023)	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar	2
2024 Canadian federal budget Fairness for every generation	2024–25	16 April 2024	C-69		Template:Aye Royal Assent (20 June 2024)	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar	2
2025 Canadian federal budget	2025–26	4 November 2025	Template:Canadian party colour|	François-Philippe Champagne Template:Canadian party colour	TBD	Template:Aye Royal Assent (17 November 2025)	Template:Composition bar	Template:Composition bar		30 (Carney)

See also

• Taxation in Canada
• Canadian public debt

International:

• Government budget by country