ARCHIVED - Budget 2001 Overview
Transcript of the Minister's video presentation

Budget 2001 comes at a critical time.

We are in the midst of a global economic slowdown, made worse by the terrorist attacks of September 11th.

This presents a tremendous challenge for all Canadians.

It's a challenge Budget 2001 meets on four fronts:

§ it provides funding for enhanced security;

§ it recognizes the importance of an open, yet secure, Canada-U.S. border;

§ it supports Canadians in difficult times; and

§ it gives a full accounting of the nation's finances.

In total, Budget 2001 invests $7.7 billion in comprehensive measures to keep Canadian's safe, terrorists out, and our borders open.

It provides additional funding to strengthen intelligence and policing.

It beefs up security at our ports and seaways.

It provides resources for more immigration officers at our posts overseas.

It tightens controls in our refugee system.

And it also provides resources to make our Immigration and Refugee board process more efficient.

Budget 2001 also makes air travel safer, providing resources for new, rigorous standards for security in airports and on flights.

Among other things, it will provide armed undercover police for foreign and domestic flights, and it will pay for new secure cockpit doors on all Canadian passenger aircraft.

Since September 11th we face a new challenge at the Canada-U.S. border...

...the challenge of creating a border that is open for business, but closed to terror.

To accomplish this Budget 2001 invests almost $650 million to ensure our border is safe and open...

...and another $600 million over five years for border related infrastructure projects.

The strategic investments in Budget 2001 meet two goals:

they provide economic support in a time of uncertainty; and,

they meet the Government's commitment to a more innovative and inclusive society.

First, this budget strengthens the federal Government's contribution to health care by investing $260 million over the next three years to improve health information systems and to promote health-related research and innovation.

And it confirms the Government's $23.4 billion commitment of September 2000 to support health care and early childhood development.

Budget 2001 also invests more than $2 billion over three years in support of skills, learning and research...

...and it will invest a minimum of $2 billion to create the Strategic Infrastructure Foundation, which will fund large projects across Canada.

Where the need is greatest, Budget 2001 also responds - both within and beyond our borders.

It provides an additional $185 million for programs over the next two years that will help aboriginal children get the best possible start in life.

And Budget 2001 increases international assistance by $1 billion.

Managing an economy through tough times means striking a balance.

Budget 2001 does that.

It provides vital support at a critical time but jeopardizes neither the progress of our past nor the prospects for our future.

By working together we've eliminated a crippling deficit, paid down massive amounts of debt, and made the single biggest tax cut in Canadian history.

And this year, 2001-2002, the Government has recorded its fifth consecutive balanced budget.

These may be uncertain times.

But thanks to the hard work and sacrifices of all Canadians, this country is well-placed to weather the current economic downturn...

...and to enjoy the recovery ahead.

To learn more about Budget 2001, please take some time to explore this web site.