Pre-Budget Consultations -- Meeting with Canadians

In the Fall of every year, a group of Members of Parliament, called the House of Commons Finance Committee, begins holding meetings with groups and individuals to seek their ideas and priorities for the budget. These meetings, held in Ottawa and across the country, are an important part of the budget process because they give Canadians the opportunity to sit face-to-face with the Committee and explain the issues they feel should be considered by the government in the upcoming budget. Many of the ideas taken from these meetings have been incorporated into past budgets.

The Finance Minister and his officials also meet with groups and individuals on an ongoing basis to seek advice and to learn what direction Canadians wish to follow with the country's finances.

As well, tens of thousands of groups and individuals send their views to the Finance Minister by regular mail and e-mail each year. Most of these letters and submissions arrive during the budget period. Many of them provide ideas and suggestions that are considered during the preparation of the budget.

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Working with governments

Much of the work that is done during the budget period is accomplished through close contact with other federal departments and the governments of the provinces and territories. Decisions on how to manage the finances of federal social programs, such as Employment Insurance for example, are made in co-operation with the federal departments responsible for carrying out the day-to-day operations of the program.

At the same time, the provinces and territories are involved in the discussions about the amount of money they are to receive from the federal government so that they can provide their residents with provincial programs, such as health care and education.

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Spreading the word

After all these meetings have taken place, the Finance Minister and his officials in the Department of Finance write the budget and the budget speech for delivery in the House of Commons. Many booklets and information materials are produced and sent to key locations around the country to ensure that all Canadians have access to the information they want or need. An information telephone line is also in operation just after the Budget Speech is delivered and lasts for a few weeks after the budget to respond to the questions individuals may have about the measures contained in the budget.

Of course, all the budget material is available on the Department of Finance web site as soon as the Minister of Finance begins his speech on Budget Day.

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