The Carney government’s technical budget announcement yesterday offers some good and bad changes to Ottawa’s budgeting process. But Canada’s most important public finance question remains unresolved.
Start with the good. Permanently moving the federal budget’s timing to better align with the parliamentary estimates process is a small but meaningful reform.
It may seem wonky, but it reflects an important principle: Parliament, not the executive branch, ultimately appropriates public funds. Over the years, that constitutional responsibility has been diluted by the growing complexity and politicization of the budget process. Bringing the two timelines together reaffirms the central role of Parliament in scrutinizing and approving government spending.
Then of course there’s the bad—and it’s bad ...
CLICK HERE for the full story
Start with the good. Permanently moving the federal budget’s timing to better align with the parliamentary estimates process is a small but meaningful reform.
It may seem wonky, but it reflects an important principle: Parliament, not the executive branch, ultimately appropriates public funds. Over the years, that constitutional responsibility has been diluted by the growing complexity and politicization of the budget process. Bringing the two timelines together reaffirms the central role of Parliament in scrutinizing and approving government spending.
Then of course there’s the bad—and it’s bad ...
CLICK HERE for the full story

Comments
Post a Comment