The Canadian federal budget is presented annually by the Government of Canada to identify planned government spending and expected government revenue, and to forecast economic conditions for the upcoming fiscal year. Federal budgets are presented in the fall by the minister of finance. Before 2025, federal budgets were released in the spring.

Budget process The budget is announced in the House of Commons by the minister of finance, who traditionally wears new shoes while doing so. The budget is then voted on by the House of Commons. Budgets are a confidence measure, and if the House votes against it the government can fall, as happened to Prime Minister Joe Clark's government in 1980. The governing party strictly enforces party discipline, usually expelling from the party caucus any government member of Parliament (MP) who votes against the budget. Opposition parties almost always vote against the budget. In cases of minority government, the government has normally had to include major concessions to one of the smaller parties to ensure passage of the budget.

Historically the Official Opposition used to prepare a complete alternative budget and present it along with the main budget. In recent years, opposition parties are more likely to pick only certain aspects to criticize. The Reform Party revived this practice for a time, however. A complete alternative budget is today produced each year by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, a non-partisan think-tank.

Traditionally, the budget process was immensely secretive with little consultation. Under Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent, the minister of finance famously would type the entire budget himself so that no secretary could read it. This secrecy was felt to be needed for inside information could enable individuals to profit from upcoming government decisions. The secrecy also had a large political component, as it would help undermine the response by the opposition.

Under Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and his Finance Minister Paul Martin, this changed considerably. Most of the budget would be released well before its announcement, especially any major changes so as to get feedback from the populace and the market.

The process of creating the budget is a complex one which begins within the working ranks for the federal government. Each year, the various departments that make up the government submit what are called 'Main Estimates' to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS). These documents identify the planned expenditure of each department, linking these proposed expenses to programs, to objectives and ultimately to the priorities of the current ruling government. TBS combines these budget estimates and compiles an initial proposed budget. From there, Cabinet and the Prime Minister's Office adjust the budget based on a series of economic, social and political factors. In reality, decisions are usually made with the primary intent of re-election and so often include advantages for key regions and lobby groups.

Following the budget, Parliament will pass an appropriation act (called the interim supply) which will allow individual departments to spend 3/12th of their annual budget. This partial authority enables Parliament to spend more time in examining the Estimates documents. In June, Parliament appropriates the full supply. Under Prime Minister Mark Carney, budgets began being tabled in the fall, with an economic statement in the spring.

Summary of budgets

Budget(Unofficial) SubtitleFiscal yearTabled onMinister of FinanceInitial Budget Implementation ActMinistryBill Fate Votes forVotes presented are those of the latest reading in the House of Commons Vote against Paired votes 1988 Canadian federal budgetNoneAll budgets tabled during the 33rd Canadian Parliament had the subtitle Securing Economic Renewal on their cover page. 1988–89 10 February 1988 Michael Wilson 24(Mulroney) 1989 Canadian federal budgetNone 1989–90 27 April 1989 1990 Canadian federal budgetNone 1990–91 20 February 1990 1991 Canadian federal budgetNone 1991–92 26 February 1990 1992 Canadian federal budgetNone 1992–93 25 February 1992 Don Mazankowski 1993 Canadian federal budgetNone 1993–94 26 April 1993C-9 Royal Assent (12 May 1994)Debates of the House of Commons – 19 April 1994Adopted on division 1994 Canadian federal budgetNone 1994–95 22 February 1994Paul MartinC-17 Royal Assent (15 June 1994)Debates of the House of Commons – 31 May 1994 1626 (Chrétien) 1995 Canadian federal budgetNone 1995–96 27 February 1995C-76 Royal Assent (22 June 1995)Debates of the House of Commons – 6 June 1995 28 1996 Canadian federal budgetSecuring the Future 1996–97 6 March 1996C-31 Royal Assent (22 June 1995)Debates of the House of Commons – 27 May 1996 60 1997 Canadian federal budgetBuilding the Future for Canadians 1997–98 18 February 1997C-93 Royal Assent (27 April 1997)Debates of the House of Commons – 22 April 1997 30 1998 Canadian federal budgetA Strong Economy and a Secure Society 1998–99 24 February 1998C-36 Royal Assent (18 June 1998)Debates of the House of Commons – 27 May 1998 12 1999 Canadian federal budgetBuilding today for a better tomorrow 1999–00 16 February 1999C-71 Royal Assent (17 June 1999)Debates of the House of Commons – 10 May 1999 20 2000 Canadian federal budgetBetter finances, better lives 2000–01 28 February 2000C-32 Royal Assent (6 June 2000)Debates of the House of Commons – 6 June 2000 4 2001 Canadian federal budgetSecuring progress in an uncertain world 2002–03 10 December 2001C-49 Royal Assent (27 March 2002) – 2003 Canadian federal budget Building the Canada We Want 2003–04 18 February 2003 John ManleyC-28 Royal Assent (19 June 2003) 18 2004 Canadian federal budget New Agenda for Achievement 2004–05 23 March 2004Ralph GoodaleC-30 Royal Assent (14 June 2004) 827(Martin) 2005 Canadian federal budget Delivering on Commitments 2005–06 23 February 2005C-43 Royal Assent (29 June 2005) – 2006 Canadian federal budgetFocusing on Priorities 2006–07 2 May 2006Jim FlahertyC-4 Royal Assent (22 June 2006) colspan="3" 28(Harper) 2007 Canadian federal budgetAspire to a Stronger, Safer, Better Canada 2007–08 19 March 2007C-52 Royal Assent (22 June 2007) 10 2008 Canadian federal budget Responsible Leadership 2008–09 26 February 2008C-50 Royal Assent (18 June 2008) 12 2009 Canadian federal budget Canada's Economic Action Plan 2009–10 7 January 2009C-10 Royal Assent (12 March 2009) 12 2010 Canadian federal budget Leading the Way on Jobs and Growth 2010–11 4 March 2010C-12 Royal Assent (12 July 2010) 62011 Canadian federal budgetA Low-Tax Plan for Jobs and Growth2011–12 22 March 2011 Never adopted colspan="3" 6 June 2011C-3 Royal Assent (26 June 2011) – 2012 Canadian federal budgetJobs, Growth and Long-Term Prosperity 2012–13 29 March 2012C-19 Royal Assent (29 June 2012) – 2013 Canadian federal budgetJobs, Growth and Long-Term Prosperity 2013–14 21 March 2013C-33 Royal Assent (26 June 2013) – 2014 Canadian federal budgetThe Road to Balance 2014–15 11 February 2014C-31 Royal Assent (19 June 2014) – 2015 Canadian federal budgetStrong Leadership 2015–16 21 April 2015 Joe OliverC-15 Royal Assent (23 June 2015) – 2016 Canadian federal budgetGrowing the Middle Class 2016–17 22 March 2016Bill MorneauC-15 Royal Assent (22 June 2016) –29(J. Trudeau) 2017 Canadian federal budgetBuilding a Strong Middle Class 2017–18 22 March 2017C-44 Royal Assent (22 June 2017) – 2018 Canadian federal budgetEquality + Growth 2018–19 27 February 2018C-74 Royal Assent (21 June 2018) – 2019 Canadian federal budgetInvesting in the Middle Class 2019–20 19 March 2019C-97 Royal Assent (21 June 2019) 2 2020 Canadian federal budget 2020–21 colspan=4 Never presented colspan="3" 2021 Canadian federal budgetA Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience 2021–22 19 April 2021Chrystia Freeland C-30 Royal Assent (29 June 2021) – 2022 Canadian federal budgetA Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable 2022–23 7 April 2022C-19 Royal Assent (23 June 2022) 12 2023 Canadian federal budgetA Made-in-Canada Plan: Strong Middle Class, Affordable Economy, Healthy Future 2023–24 28 March 2023C-47 Royal Assent (22 June 2023) 2 2024 Canadian federal budgetFairness for every generation 2024–25 16 April 2024C-69 Royal Assent (20 June 2024) 2 2025 Canadian federal budget Canada Strong 2025–26 4 November 2025 François-Philippe ChampagneC-15 Royal Assent (17 November 2025) 030(Carney)

See also Taxation in Canada Canadian public debt

International: Government budget by country

Notes and references Notes

References