연방정부, 8년만에 처음으로 흑자예산 편성, 영세자영업자,노인복지등에 배려

2015-16회계년도의 새예산안이 어제 오후 4시경 오타와 의사당에서 재무장관에 의해 발표 됐다.  내년에 총선거가 있기 때문에 이번 예산안 작성은 많은 고뇌의 흔적이 곳곳에서 보인다.
또한 2008년이후 처음으로 흑자예산이 편성된점을 강조하겠지만, 야당은 선거를 겨냥한 선심성 예산안이라고 자유당의 Justin Trudeau와  NDP의 Mulcair 당수들은 의회 토론에서 총공격을 퍼부울 준비를 하는것 같다.  이런 비난은 야당으로서는 당연한 정치적 공격이다.

오늘은 재무장관 Oliver씨는 만약에 어제 발표된 예산안 내용보다 더 국민들을 위한 내용의 예산 정책을 야당에서 제시하면 검토해서 삽입여부를 심도있게 검토 할수도 있다는 여운을 남겨두기도 했다.

적자예산을 벗어나 흑자예산을 달성하기위한 재원조달 방안으로, 연방정부는 General Motors지분을 매각할 계획임을 밝혔다.  또한 지난해 일어난 오일가격의 폭락과 캐나다의 수출이 어려움에 처했을때와 같은 경제적 여러움에 처했을때 사용 할려고 비축해 두었던 자금을 꺼내서 사용할 계획과 한편으로 야당에서 증세를 요구하는 것과는 반대로 세금을 삭감할 계획이라고 발표했다.

또한 이번 예산안에서 눈여겨 볼점은 노인 복지와 영세 자영업자, 안보에 많은 보조를 하게 된다고 재무장관은 설명하고 있다.

이번 예산안은 의회에서 토론을 하겠지만,  현정부인 보수당 다수 의석을 차지하고 있기에 무난히 통과 될것으로 보인다.

토론토 시장, John Tory는  이번 연방 예산안 발표를 보고, 잘 짜여진 예산안이라고 칭찬 하면서 이번 예산안에, 그가 추진 하고 있는 Smart Track같은 사업을 추진하기위해 연방 정부의 재정 지원이 많이 포함되여 있다고 분석한 것이다.

아래의 기사 내용을 참조 해 보면 좋을것 같다.

http://www.torontosun.com/2015/04/21/feds-balance-budget-with-asset-sales

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/budget-balanced-on-backs-of-contingency-fund-ei-and-oil/article24057148/

OTTAWA - The Conservative government, seeking re-election this year, delivered a budget on Tuesday that promised a slim surplus despite the oil price crash, while offering goodies to seniors and small businesses and boosting security spending.

The surplus will be the government's first in eight years, accomplished with the help of the sale of assets including General Motors shares. To balance the books, the government also took a large chunk out of the cushion set aside for economic shocks such as last year's plunge in the price of oil, a major Canadian export.

"This budget is written in black ink," Finance Minister Joe Oliver told Parliament. The 2015-16 budget is certain to pass because of the Conservatives' parliamentary majority.

The Conservatives, seeking a fourth straight election win in October, portray themselves as strong economic managers.

But polls show they lack enough support to win another majority, which they might need to ensure they are not brought down by Justin Trudeau's Liberals and Thomas Mulcair's New Democrats.

The budget, however, includes tax cuts and could bind the opposition parties' hands by leaving only small surpluses with which to fund new programs they may promise. The budget forecasts surpluses ranging from $1.4 billion for the fiscal year that started on April 1 to $2.6 billion for 2018-19.

In creating their election platforms, therefore, opposition parties might have to look at increasing taxes, reallocating spending or returning to deficit, leaving them open to attack from the Conservatives on these issues in the upcoming campaign.

To combat the 2008 financial crisis, the Conservatives ran massive deficits, ending a string of surpluses started by previous Liberal governments. They have gradually reduced those deficits.

But to bring Tuesday's budget to surplus, Oliver cut a $3 billion annual contingency fund for unexpected problems to $1 billion.

"From a financial market perspective, ideally you want a higher cushion than that, but I like the fact that they used it," said Laurentian Bank Securities assistant chief economist Sebastien Lavoie.

A $2.2 billion boost from asset sales also helped achieve the surplus.

The budget entrenched major family tax cuts announced last year, including one allowing parents to lower their taxes by sharing their income. It also increased tax-free savings account contribution limits.

Trudeau said he would reverse the tax-free savings increase and the income-splitting measure, saying they disproportionately help the wealthiest Canadians. He pledged balanced budgets if the Liberals win the election.

Mulcair accused the Conservatives of giving billions to the richest "while giving bread crumbs to the middle class".

The budget also reduced the small business tax rate to 9% in 2019 from 11%, and cut the amount seniors must withdraw annually from Registered Retirement Income Funds, lowering their taxes.

Oliver pledged more for the military and security agencies, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, to help combat terror threats. But much of the planned spending will be deferred.

"When there's a limit imposed by a spectacular fall in the price of oil, you can't do everything. That's the reality. You have to make choices," Oliver said.