Dear Valued Clients and Colleagues:
The Federal Government's 2018 Budget touts Canada's
strong economic growth over the past two years, including real GDP
growth of 3.2 per cent since the second quarter of 2016, an
unemployment rate of 5.9 per cent, and significant improvements in
average weekly earnings, consumer confidence, and household
consumption. The Finance Minister expects similar growth in the
near-term. In addition, federal revenues increased by more than 11
per cent in 2017, largely from personal and corporate income
taxes.
With this positive economic activity and outlook, the Government
has presented an "Equality and Growth," budget that
includes tens of billions of dollars in new or increased spending
over the next six years, with the goal of further growing
government revenues by increasing economic participation among
women, visible minority Canadians and persons with disabilities, as
well as substantial long-term investments in science
