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STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

HOUSE OF COMMONS
CHAMBRES DES COMMUNES
OTTAWA, CANADA
K1A 0A6		 COMITÉ PERMANENT DES FINANCES

THEMES FOR THE PBC 2004:
Increasingly, Canadian citizens are concerned about governments` fiscal transparency, accountability and allocation of their tax dollars. Citizens want to know that governments are spending on the highest priorities of Canadians, and that their funds are being spent wisely and carefully.

For governments, the process of developing a budget involves making choices. With limited funds available to address the priorities of Canadians, governments are unable to finance every program spending or tax proposal made by individuals and groups, no matter how worthy they may be.

The federal government’s ongoing expenditure review process is one means by which the government can evaluate its fiscal choices to ensure that Canadians are being served as effectively and efficiently as possible, and in accordance with their priorities.

In order to engage Canadians in a dialogue about these priorities, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance will focus this year’s pre-budget consultations on expenditure review, concentrating on the choices that Canadians and their federal government must face when evaluating spending, taxation and other proposals.

It is from this perspective that the Committee invites Canadians to contribute their ideas and to discuss their priorities for the federal government. Where possible, it would be appreciated if proposals submitted would include their potential costs, as well as an indication of what trade-offs – or spending or tax re-allocations – might be undertaken in order to finance these proposals.

The Committee invites groups and individuals to focus on the following questions:

  • Is on going expenditure review a useful exercise?

  • What should be the program spending, taxation and other priorities of the federal government in the next Budget?

  • What is (are) the estimated cost(s) of your proposal(s)?

  • If program spending reductions and/or tax changes were required to finance the cost of your proposal(s), which programs should have their funding reduced and/or what tax changes would you suggest?

  • With the federal government`s five-year tax reduction program ending this year, should the federal government institute another broadly based tax reduction program? If so, what taxes should be reduced and by how much?

  • How can the federal government, working with the provinces and territories, achieve sustainability in health care, education and social program spending?

  • What are your three most important spending, taxation and other priorities, among the following: health, education, infrastructure, defense, social programs, foreign aid, tax reductions and debt reduction?

  • How important do you think it is for the federal government to maintain a balanced budget?
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