Federal Finance Minister Joe Oliver tabled the Conservative
government's eleventh budget on April 21, 2015. The Federal
Budget was originally expected to be released in February or March,
however, due to growth uncertainties and a significant decline in
global oil prices, Minister Oliver announced its delay in January
of this year.
Entitled Strong Leadership: A Balanced-Budget, Low-Tax Plan
for Jobs, Growth and Security, the government fulfilled its
long-term pledge to balance its books after the peak of the global
financial crisis and seven years of deficit. The posted CA$1.4
billion surplus figure is, however, trivial when taken in the
context of an overall CA$288.9 billion budget for F2015. The
government was able to achieve its pledge largely by dipping into
its contingency fund, reducing its spending, and selling government
assets, including the sale of its stake in General Motors Company
and the auction of wireless spectrum.
