Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty tabled the Conservative
government's tenth full budget on February 11, 2014. Entitled
The Road to Balance: Creating Jobs and Opportunities, the
budget outlined the government's continued efforts to return to
surplus in time for the next federal election while announcing
several modest consumer friendly, infrastructure, and jobs training
measures aimed at stimulating jobs and growth. Budget measures are
meant to complement objectives set forth in the Economic Action
Plan of 2009. In that respect, Budget 2014 represents the
conclusion of a multi-year plan to balance federal books.
Modest announcements fit thematically within the framework of
fostering a competitive business environment (i.e. no new business
taxes), encouraging trade and innovation, and promoting competitive
advantage in areas like the financial services sector, resource
development, and mining forestry and agriculture (i.e. tax
credits).
