The Budget in Brief 2015

THE PDF VERSION 2015 1,245 KB

To access a Portable Document Format (PDF) file you must have a PDF reader installed. If you do not already have such a reader, there are numerous PDF readers available for free download or for purchase on the Internet.

The Government is fulfilling its promise to balance the budget in 2015, pursuant to its long-standing commitment to responsible fiscal management. Economic Action Plan 2015 will see the budget balanced and Canadians can rest assured that Canada’s fiscal house is in order.

Under the Government’s Economic Action Plan, the deficit has been reduced from $55.6 billion at the height of the global economic and financial crisis to a projected surplus of $1.4 billion for 2015–16 (Chart 1.1).

The Government has eliminated the deficit

Chart 1.1

Budgetary Balance After Measures

Canada’s Economic Action Plan has been underpinned by prudent fiscal management and the Government’s low-tax plan for families and businesses. Since 2006, the Government’s priorities have been to create well-paying and secure jobs for Canadians, lower taxes for Canadian families and businesses, and balance the budget.

This Government has lowered taxes every year since coming into office. In fact, since 2006 the Government has introduced over 180 tax relief measures. The overall federal tax burden is now at its lowest level in more than 50 years. 

Canadian families and individuals have benefitted from significant tax reductions that have given them the flexibility to make the choices that are right for them. Canadians at all income levels are benefitting from the tax relief introduced by the Government, with low- and middle-income Canadians receiving proportionally greater relief (Chart 1.2).

The impact of the Government’s low-tax plan

Chart 1.2

Per Cent Reduction in Personal Income Taxes as a Result of Tax Relief Provided Since 2006 by Family Income, 2015

Tax relief measures introduced since 2006, in combination with benefit increases, are leaving more money in the pockets of all Canadians:

• Canadian families and individuals will receive $37 billion in tax relief and increased benefits in 2015–16 as a result of actions taken since 2006.

A typical two-earner family of four will receive tax relief and increased benefits of up to $6,600 in 2015, as a result of the Family Tax Cut, the Universal Child Care Benefit, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate reduction, the introduction of new credits, such as the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit, and broad-based income tax relief including the reduction in the lowest personal income tax rate (Chart 1.3).

Tax Relief for a Family of Four—Example

Henry and Cathy are a couple with two children, Grace and Elizabeth. Henry earns $84,000 and Cathy earns $36,000. As a result of actions taken by the Government since 2006, their family will receive $6,640 in tax relief and enhanced benefits in 2015, allowing Henry and Cathy to invest their hard-earned money where they see fit.
As shown below, this tax relief and these enhanced benefits include:

• $3,293 in income tax relief, of which $1,865 is due to measures announced in the 2014 Family Package;
• $2,329 in enhanced benefits, including $1,224 as a result of the enhanced Universal Child Care Benefit announced in the 2014 Family Package; and
• $1,018 from the Government’s reduction of the GST rate from 7 per cent to 5 per cent.

The Impact of the Government’s Low-Tax Plan

Chart 1.3

Total Federal Tax Relief and Increased Benefits for a Typical Two-Earner Family of Four, 2015
Total Federal Tax Relief and Increased Benefits = $6,640

The Government’s low-tax plan is also giving businesses strong incentives to invest in Canada. This helps the economy grow, spurs job creation and raises Canada’s standard of living. Actions taken by the Government since 2006, including those proposed in Economic Action Plan 2015, will reduce taxes for job-creating businesses by $14.7 billion in 2015–16. Canada now has the lowest overall tax rate on new business investment in the Group of Seven (G-7) (Chart 1.4).

Canada leads the G-7 with the lowest overall tax rate on new business investment

Chart 1.4

Marginal Effective Tax Rate¹ on New Business Investment, 2015

Canada’s Economic Action Plan is working. Canada continues to move forward in the face of a fragile external environment and profound global economic uncertainty. Canada has achieved one of the best economic performances among G-7 countries over the recovery. Indeed, real gross domestic product (GDP) has increased more in Canada than in any other G-7 country since the end of the recession (Chart 1.5).

Canada has performed better than other G-7 economies over the recovery

Chart 1.5

Real GDP Growth Over the Recovery

Reflecting this solid performance, over 1.2 million more Canadians are working now than at the end of the recession in June 2009—one of the strongest job creation records in the G-7 over this period. The majority of these net new jobs have been full-time positions in high-wage, private-sector industries.

The Government’s prudent fiscal plan has carefully steered Canada to balanced budgets in the face of headwinds, such as the sharp decline in crude oil prices—the third-largest decline in the last three decades. All the while, the Government has remained committed to putting money back in the pockets of hard-working Canadian families and businesses.

Our Government is fulfilling its promise to balance the federal budget. We are now in a position to fulfill our promise to help Canadian families balance theirs.

Actions taken by the Government over the past year will help further support economic growth and the creation of jobs in Canada. On a cash basis, these include:

• Support for Canadian families through the new Family Tax Cut and Universal Child Care Benefit enhancements totalling $7.8 billion in 2015–16 and over $4.5 billion ongoing.
• Support for small businesses through the Small Business Job Credit and Employment Insurance (EI) premium freezes for three years, followed by a committed reduction in EI premiums to a seven-year break-even rate in 2017.
• $5.8 billion in new investments that will continue to build and renew federal infrastructure across the country, with the majority of this support being delivered within three years.

These measures, together with those announced in Economic Action Plan 2015, total almost $10 billion in 2015–16, or 0.5 per cent of GDP, and average $8.5 billion per year thereafter, on a cash basis (Chart 1.6). This will provide significant support to the Canadian economy starting in the second quarter of 2015.

Economic Action Plan 2015 invests in Canada’s economy

Chart 1.6

Measures Supporting Jobs and Growth (Cash Basis)

Sound and sustainable public finances are paramount to ensuring ongoing economic growth and job creation over the longer term. Balanced budgets ensure low taxes, support the sustainability of the services and programs Canadians depend on, and inspire confidence in investors and consumers.

In this challenging environment, it is vital that the federal government stay focused on balancing its budget…

Prior to the global recession, the Government reduced Canada’s debt by more than $37 billion and the federal debt-to-GDP ratio to 28.2 per cent. As a result, Canada was well positioned to weather the storm as the global economy fell into recession. Canada was able to emerge from the recession faster and stronger than virtually any other major advanced economy.  

In successive budgets, beginning with Budget 2010, and as the economy recovered, the Government wound down fiscal stimulus and controlled spending to engineer a return to balanced budgets.

Having balanced the budget, the set-aside for contingencies will continue to protect the fiscal outlook from global economic uncertainty, and will be used to reduce the level of federal debt, if it is not required.

At the G-20 Leaders’ Summit in 2013, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Canada’s commitment to achieve a federal debt-to-GDP ratio of 25 per cent by 2021. In the 2013 Speech from the Throne, the Government committed to reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio to pre-recession levels by 2017. The Government remains on target to meet both commitments.

The Government’s commitment to balanced budgets has made Canada a recognized leader for fiscal stewardship on the world economic stage. Canada’s total government net debt-to-GDP ratio remains the lowest of any G-7 country and among the lowest of the advanced G-20 countries (Chart 1.7).

Canada’s net debt is the lowest of any G-7 country

Chart 1.7

Total Government Net Debt-to-GDP Ratios, 2015

Reducing Canada’s debt burden is also a question of intergenerational fairness—it would simply not be fair to saddle our children and grandchildren with inevitable tax hikes to pay for the expenses we could not settle ourselves.

Balancing the budget takes hard work and tough choices. A balanced budget:

• Ensures taxpayer dollars are used to support important social services—such as health care—rather than paying interest costs.
• Preserves Canada’s low-tax plan and allows for further tax reductions, fostering growth and the creation of jobs for the benefit of all Canadians.
• Helps to instill confidence in consumers and investors, whose dollars spur economic growth and job creation.
• Strengthens the country’s ability to respond to longer-term challenges, such as population aging, and unexpected global economic shocks.
• Signals that public services are sustainable, ensuring fairness for future generations by avoiding future tax increases or reductions in services.

To secure recent gains, the Government is proposing to enshrine in law its prudent approach to fiscal planning by introducing balanced budget legislation. This proposed legislation confirms the Government’s ongoing commitment to responsibly managing taxpayers’ money.

Economic Action Plan 2015

Going forward, global economic uncertainty dictates that for Canada to become an even safer, more confident and more prosperous country, the Government must continue to take responsible and deliberate steps to create jobs, foster economic growth and maintain its commitment to fiscal responsibility.

Canada’s Economic Action Plan is working, but the job is not done and there are new challenges on the horizon. The Government must stay the course to protect the economic interests of Canadians and the security of Canada. 

Economic Action Plan 2015 will continue to implement measures that support what matters to Canadians:

• Supporting jobs and growth by maintaining the right economic environment to allow job-creating businesses to thrive and reach new markets with their products, proposing new investments in public infrastructure, and training a highly skilled workforce that is responsive to the evolving needs of employers.
• Helping families and communities prosper by continuing to provide tax relief for Canadian families and individuals, enhancing opportunities for all Canadians, and celebrating Canada’s cultural and natural heritage.
• Ensuring the security of Canadians by continuing to support the Canadian Armed Forces and protecting Canadians from the threat of terrorism at home and abroad.

Maintaining focus on these priorities is the best way to ensure that Canada’s future is secure and prosperous, with a healthy economy fuelled by low taxes and sustainable public finances. 

Economic Developments and Prospects (Chapter 2)

• The Canadian economy has experienced one of the best performances among the Group of Seven (G-7) countries over the recovery.
• Over 1.2 million more Canadians are working now than at the end of the recession, one of the strongest job performances among G-7 countries over this period.
• Since mid-2014, weak global growth, combined with continued steady increases in oil supply, has led to significant declines in world crude oil prices.
• This is affecting Canada, which is a producer and net exporter of crude oil.
• However, the Canadian economy is resilient: real gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow at a pace of about 2 per cent in both 2015 and 2016.
• Moreover, actions taken by the Government in the fall of 2014 and in Economic Action Plan 2015 will provide almost $10 billion of support to the Canadian economy this fiscal year, starting in the second quarter of 2015.
• Risks to the Canadian economic outlook remain largely external, stemming from the uncertainty surrounding both the future path of oil prices and global growth.

Supporting the Manufacturing Sector and Investing in Advanced Research (Chapter 3.1)

Since 2006, the Government has taken action to reduce taxes to promote investment in Canada, and leverage the collective efforts of post-secondary institutions, industry, and government to build a robust research sector. Economic Action Plan 2015 builds on this foundation by:

Encouraging Investment in Canada’s Manufacturing Sector

• Maintaining a low tax burden on businesses to encourage investment in Canada.
• Providing manufacturers a 10-year tax incentive to boost productivity-enhancing investment.
• Providing up to $100 million over five years, starting in 2015–16, to support product development and technology demonstration by Canadian automotive parts suppliers through the new Automotive Supplier Innovation Program.
• Developing a national aerospace supplier development initiative.
• Providing $2.5 million per year, starting in 2016–17, to increase the analytical capacity needed to support the Defence Procurement Strategy.

Supporting World-Class Advanced Research

• Providing an additional $1.33 billion over six years, starting in 2017–18, to the Canada Foundation for Innovation to support advanced research infrastructure at universities, colleges and research hospitals.
• Creating a more efficient and effective national digital research infrastructure system by providing $105 million over five years, starting in 2015–16, to CANARIE, Canada’s world-class high-speed research and education network.
• Dedicating an additional $46 million per year to the granting councils, starting in 2016–17, focused in areas that will fuel economic growth and respond to important challenges and opportunities.
• Providing up to $243.5 million to secure Canada’s participation in the Thirty Meter Telescope and related domestic work on leading-edge components.
• Providing up to $72.3 million in 2015–16, on a cash basis, to Atomic Energy of Canada Limited to maintain safe and reliable operations at the Chalk River Laboratories.
• Providing an additional $30 million over four years, starting in 2016–17, to support cutting-edge research and technology development in Canada’s satellite communications sector.
• Extending Canada’s participation in the International Space Station mission to 2024.
• Dedicating $119.2 million over two years, starting in 2015–16, to the National Research Council’s industry-partnered research and development activities, helping Canadian businesses increase their competitiveness and develop new, cutting-edge products.
• Helping to develop the next generation of research and development leaders by providing $56.4 million over four years, starting in 2016–17, to Mitacs in support of graduate-level industrial research and development internships.

Helping Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs Create Jobs (Chapter 3.2)

This Government recognizes the vital role that small businesses play in creating jobs and generating economic growth. Since 2006, the Government has taken significant action to support job-creating businesses by lowering taxes, cutting red tape, and encouraging entrepreneurship. Economic Action Plan 2015 builds on this foundation by:

Helping Small Businesses Grow and Fostering Entrepreneurship

• Reducing taxes further for small businesses.
• Increasing the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption to $1 million for owners of farm and fishing businesses.
• Improving access to financing for Canadian small businesses.
• Expanding services of the Business Development Bank of Canada and Export Development Canada to help small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Increasing access to venture capital financing to help innovative,
  high-growth companies grow and create jobs.
• Providing $14 million over two years to Futurpreneur Canada in support of young entrepreneurs.
• Supporting the Action Plan for Women Entrepreneurs to help women business owners succeed.

Reducing Red Tape for Businesses and Enhancing Corporate Governance

• Reducing the frequency of remittances for the smallest new employers.
• Launching the planning and preparation required for federal adoption of the Business Number as a Common Business Identifier.
• Modernizing Canada’s federal corporate governance framework to facilitate best practices, including increasing women’s participation in corporate leadership.

Training a Highly Skilled Workforce (Chapter 3.3)

Since 2006, the Government has acted to ensure the development of a skilled, mobile and productive workforce. Despite significant investment, some challenges remain. Many Canadians are still out of work or underutilized at a time when there are skills and labour market shortages in certain sectors and regions. To this end, Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes additional concrete actions that respond to current labour market challenges and meet longer-term labour market needs, including:

Training the Workforce of Tomorrow

• Supporting provinces and territories to facilitate the harmonization of apprenticeship training and certification requirements in targeted Red Seal trades.
• Providing $1 million over five years to promote the adoption of the Blue Seal Certification program across Canada.
• Making a one-time investment of $65 million to business and industry associations to allow them to work with willing post-secondary institutions to better align curricula with the needs of employers.
• Expanding eligibility for the Low- and Middle-Income Canada Student Grants to short duration programs.
• Making the Canada Student Loans Program work for families by reducing the expected parental contribution under the needs assessment process.
• Removing the penalty on post-secondary students who work by eliminating in-study student income from the Canada Student Loans Program needs assessment process.
• Investing $248.5 million over five years in Aboriginal labour market programming.
• Investing $2 million over two years, starting in 2016–17, to expand the Computers for Schools program, extending access to refurbished computer equipment to non-profit organizations such as those that support low-income Canadians, seniors and new Canadians.

Supporting Canadian Workers

• Investing $53.8 million over two years to extend the current Employment Insurance Working While on Claim pilot project to August 2016.
• Enhancing labour market information, including the launch of a new one-stop national labour market information portal.
• Pursuing negotiations with provinces and territories on the $1.95-billion-per-year Labour Market Development Agreements to reorient training towards labour market demand.
• Providing $35 million over five years to make permanent the Foreign Credential Recognition Loans pilot project.

Ensuring a Safe and Healthy Workplace

• Strengthening Canada Labour Code protections for all employees and interns under federal jurisdiction.
• Providing $4.8 million over five years to increase compliance with the health and safety provisions of the Canada Labour Code.
• Modernizing the Government Employees Compensation Act to simplify and accelerate claims processing and clarify coverage.
• The Government will make every effort to reach agreement with bargaining agents within a reasonable timeframe on necessary reforms to disability and sick leave management.

Investing in Infrastructure (Chapter 3.4)

Our quality of life and ability to compete on the global stage depend on the performance and quality of our public infrastructure. In Economic Action Plan 2015, this Government continues to make unprecedented long-term investments to ensure that Canadians continue to benefit from world-class infrastructure across the country by: 

Investing in Infrastructure

• Continuing to provide $5.35 billion per year on average for provincial, territorial and municipal infrastructure under the New Building Canada Plan.
• Increasing the borrowing limits of the Government of the Northwest Territories to $1.3 billion and the Government of Nunavut to $650 million, upon approval of the Governor in Council.
• Providing an additional $750 million over two years, starting in 2017–18, and $1 billion per year ongoing thereafter for a new and innovative Public Transit Fund—the Government’s largest targeted infrastructure program—to promote public transit infrastructure investment in a manner that is affordable for taxpayers and efficient for commuters.
• Creating a new dedicated infrastructure fund to support the renovation, expansion and improvement of existing community infrastructure in all regions of the country as part of the Canada 150 celebrations.
• Continuing to build and renew federal infrastructure and on-reserve schools, including through $5.8 billion in investments over six years.
• Reviewing the usefulness of the rule that restricts federal pension funds from holding more than 30 per cent of the voting shares of a company.

Growing Trade and Expanding Markets (Chapter 3.5)

International trade and investment are vital to the continued growth of the Canadian economy and contribute to the prosperity of people and businesses across Canada, including in the natural resources sector. Since 2006, the Government has worked tirelessly to ensure that Canadian exporters and investors have access to foreign markets and preferential terms of trade and investment with other nations, and that Canada responsibly develops its natural resources for the benefit of all Canadians. Economic Action Plan builds on this track record by:

Fostering Trade

• Providing $50 million over five years for a program to share the cost of exploring new export opportunities with small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Providing $42 million over five years to expand the footprint and resources of the Trade Commissioner Service.
• Securing agriculture market access by providing $18.1 million over two years, starting in 2016–17, to promote competitiveness and trade opportunities for the agriculture and agri-food sector.
• Providing an additional $12 million over two years, starting in 2016–17, to market Canadian agricultural and agri‑food products around the world.
• Providing $5.7 million over five years, starting in 2015–16, to help secure new market access for Canadian seal products.
• Providing $3 million over three years, starting in 2015–16, for the International Maritime Centre to attract foreign shipping companies to establish their headquarters in Vancouver.
• Supporting a new tourism marketing campaign in the United States.
• Ensuring that Canada’s trade remedy system operates in an effective, accessible and transparent manner.
• Continuing to implement the Beyond the Border and Regulatory Cooperation Council Action Plans with the United States to strengthen our long-term security and trade relationship.
• Creating an Internal Trade Promotion Office within Industry Canada to support efforts to renew the Agreement on Internal Trade.

Responsible Resource Development

• Providing accelerated capital cost allowance treatment for assets used in facilities that liquefy natural gas.
• Extending the Mineral Exploration Tax Credit until March 31, 2016.
• Continuing to support effective project approvals through the Major Projects Management Office Initiative, with $135 million over five years, starting in 2015–16.
• Providing $34 million over five years, starting in 2015–16, to continue consultations with Canadians related to projects assessed under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.
• Dedicating $80 million over five years, starting in 2015–16, to the National Energy Board for safety and environmental protection and greater engagement with Canadians. This funding will be fully cost-recovered from industry.
• Providing $30.8 million over five years, starting in 2015–16, for measures to enhance the safety of marine transportation in the Arctic and further strengthen marine incident prevention, preparedness and response in waters south of the 60th parallel.
• Providing $22 million over five years, starting in 2015–16, to Natural Resources Canada to renew the Targeted Geoscience Initiative.
• Dedicating $23 million over five years, starting in 2015–16, from Natural Resources Canada to stimulate the technological innovation needed to separate and develop rare earth elements and chromite.
• Continuing to support the transformation of the forest sector by providing $86 million over two years, starting in 2016–17, to extend the Forest Innovation Program and the Expanding Market Opportunities Program.

Low-Tax Plan to Help Families Make Ends Meet (Chapter 4.1)

Since 2006, the Government has introduced several measures to make life more affordable for Canadian families and individuals, while recognizing that they are better placed than governments to determine their own spending priorities. Economic Action Plan 2015 builds on the Government’s record of support for families and individuals by keeping taxes low and introducing new measures to help families make ends meet, support seniors, and protect consumers, such as:

Helping Families Make Ends Meet

• Increasing the Tax-Free Savings Account annual contribution limit to $10,000.
• Reaffirming the Government's commitment to reduce Employment Insurance premiums for over 16 million Canadians in 2017.
• Extending Employment Insurance Compassionate Care Benefits from six weeks to six months to better support Canadians caring for gravely ill family members.

Supporting Seniors

• Reducing the minimum withdrawal factors for Registered Retirement Income Funds to permit seniors to preserve more of their retirement savings to better support their retirement income needs.
• Introducing a new Home Accessibility Tax Credit for seniors and persons with disabilities to help with the costs of ensuring their homes remain safe, secure and accessible.

Protecting Consumers and Enhancing Canada's Financial Sector

• Delivering a new and exclusive financial consumer protection framework for federally regulated banks.
• Expanding the voluntary mortgage prepayment disclosure commitment to non-federally regulated mortgage lenders.
• Launching a National Strategy to support improved financial literacy.
• Implementing the Taxpayer Protection and Bank Recapitalization regime for Canada's systemically important banks.

Building Strong Communities (Chapter 4.2)

Since 2006, the Government has fostered opportunities to work, live, and prosper in safe and vibrant communities. In addition, the Government’s continued support for our natural and cultural heritage helps build stronger communities by bringing people together through shared artistic and cultural experiences and promoting a safe and clean environment. Economic Action Plan 2015 advances the Government’s ongoing commitment by:

Supporting the Charitable and Non-Profit Sector

• Exempting donations involving private shares and real estate from capital gains tax.
• Providing charities with more flexibility to diversify their investments.

Taking Action for Veterans

• Introducing a new Retirement Income Security Benefit to provide additional financial security after the age of 65 for moderately to severely disabled veterans.
• Expanding access to the Permanent Impairment Allowance to help compensate disabled veterans for the loss of career opportunities associated with their disabilities.
• Modifying the Earnings Loss Benefit to ensure that part-time Reserve Force veterans have access to the same level of income support as Regular and full-time Reserve Force veterans.
• Creating a new tax-free Family Caregiver Relief Benefit to recognize the vital contributions of informal caregivers to the health and well-being of veterans.
• Increasing the level of individualized care to veterans requiring regular support by improving the ratio of veterans to case managers.

Supporting the Most Vulnerable in Communities

• Providing $150 million over four years, starting in 2016–17, to allow cooperative and non-profit social housing providers to prepay long-term, non-renewable mortgages held with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation without penalty.
• Enhancing support for Child Advocacy Centres across Canada.

Helping Canadians With Disabilities

• Introducing a new Home Accessibility Tax Credit for persons with disabilities and seniors to help with the costs of ensuring their homes remain safe, secure and accessible.
• $2.0 million in 2015–16 to support stakeholder consultations on a Canadian Autism Partnership.
• Extending the temporary measure that allows a qualifying family member to become the plan holder of a Registered Disability Savings Plan.
• Introducing amendments to the Copyright Act that will enable Canada to implement and accede to the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled.

Investing in the Health of Canadians

• Increasing transfers for health care by a projected $27 billion over the next five years.
• Providing $14 million over two years for the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement to help identify efficiencies in the health system.
• Renewing the mandate of the Mental Health Commission of Canada for another 10 years, beginning in 2017–18.
• Providing up to $42 million over five years, starting in 2015–16, to help improve seniors’ health through innovation by establishing the Canadian Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation.

Investing in Aboriginal Communities

• Investing $30.3 million over five years for the expansion of the First Nations Land Management Regime to create further opportunities for economic development on reserve.
• Providing $200 million over five years, starting in 2015–16, to improve First Nations education.
• Providing $12 million over three years to Indspire to provide post-secondary scholarships and bursaries for First Nations and Inuit students.
• Investing $2 million per year ongoing for mental wellness teams in First Nations Communities.

Assisting International Communities

• $6 million over five years, starting in 2015–16, to introduce measures that will help ensure Canadians have access to safe, reliable and lower-cost remittance services.
• $22.8 million in 2016–17 for Grand Challenges Canada to continue its promising work towards solving global health challenges through innovation.
• Establishing the Development Finance Initiative to support effective international development by providing financing, technical assistance and business advisory services to firms operating in developing countries.

Celebrating Our Heritage

• Supporting activities and events to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary in 2017, with $210 million over four years, starting in 2015–16.
• Providing $13.4 million over five years, starting in 2015–16, and $2.8 million ongoing to support and modernize the Canadian Honours System and bring it closer to all Canadians.
• Investing up to $20 million over four years, beginning in 2016–17, to support the next generation of Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
• Promoting arts and culture at Toronto’s waterfront by providing $25 million over five years, beginning in 2016–17, to renew the Harbourfront Centre Funding Program.
• Proposing changes to the Copyright Act to extend the term of protection of sound recordings and performances.

Protecting Canada’s Environment

• Continuing to support, with $75 million over five years, starting in 2015–16, the implementation of the Species at Risk Act to protect Canada’s diverse species and secure the necessary actions for their recovery.
• Providing $2.0 million in 2015–16 to the Pacific Salmon Foundation to support the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project.
• Extending the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Program by providing $10 million per year for three years, starting in 2016–17, to support the conservation of recreational fisheries across the country.
• Dedicating $34 million over five years, starting in 2015–16, to continue to support meteorological and navigational warning services in the Arctic.
• Renewing the Chemicals Management Plan, with $491.8 million over five years, starting in 2016–17, to continue to assess and manage the risks to human health and the environment from new and existing chemical substances.
• Renewing support for the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan with $99.6 million over four years ($1.35 billion on a cash basis), starting in 2016–17.

Protecting Canadians (Chapter 4.3)

The Government’s foremost responsibility is to ensure the safety and security of Canadians and defend our sovereignty. Supporting Canadian men and women in uniform is a top priority of the Government. Economic Action Plan 2015 introduces new measures to strengthen national security and ensure Canadians feel safe and secure in their homes, online, and in their communities, such as:

Defending Canada

• Strengthening the Canadian Armed Forces by providing $11.8 billion over 10 years through an increase to the annual escalator for National Defence’s budget to 3 per cent, starting in 2017–18.
• Providing up to $360.3 million in 2015–16 for the Canadian Armed Forces to extend its mission to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
• Providing $7.1 million in 2015–16 for the Canadian Armed Forces to deliver training assistance to the Ukrainian Security Forces.
• Providing $23 million over four years on a cash basis, starting in 2015–16, to upgrade the physical security of Canadian Armed Forces bases.

Enhancing National Security

• Investing $292.6 million over five years in intelligence and law enforcement agencies for additional investigative resources to counter terrorism.
• Providing $12.5 million over five years, starting in 2015–16, and $2.5 million ongoing thereafter, in additional funding to the Security Intelligence Review Committee to enhance its review of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
• Providing $58 million over five years, starting in 2015–16, to further protect the Government of Canada’s essential cyber systems and critical infrastructure against cyber attacks.
• Investing $36.4 million over five years to support the operators of Canada’s vital cyber systems in addressing cyber security threats, as required by new legislation.
• Providing $60.4 million over three years on a cash basis to support an enhanced security model on Parliament Hill.

Protecting the Integrity of Our Borders

• Providing $15.7 million over five years to expand eligibility for the Electronic Travel Authorization to low-risk travellers from Brazil, Bulgaria, Mexico and Romania to make it easier and faster for legitimate travellers from these countries to come to Canada. 

Strengthening Community Safety

• Investing $27 million over five years, starting in 2015–16, to enhance security measures at Canada’s federal courts and registry offices and the Supreme Court of Canada.
• Providing $10 million over five years to the City of Ottawa to support policing services in the Nation’s Capital.
• Providing $3 million over two years, starting in 2016–17, to take initial steps to establish a Public Safety Broadband Network, a high-speed mobile network dedicated to emergency management.
• Supporting a memorial for the three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers killed in Moncton in June 2014.

Balancing the Budget (Chapter 5)

The Government is fulfilling its promise to balance the federal budget in 2015. The Government will return to balanced budgets while maintaining the lowest federal tax burden on Canadians in over half a century. Economic Action Plan 2015 introduces new efforts to build on our sound public finances and further modernize government operations.

• The Government is fulfilling its promise to balance the budget in 2015.
• Balanced budgets keep taxes low and ensure that taxpayer dollars are used to support the programs that Canadians depend on rather than paying interest costs.
• The deficit has been reduced from $55.6 billion at the height of the global economic and financial crisis to a projected surplus of $1.4 billion in 2015–16.
• The federal debt-to-GDP (gross domestic product) ratio is expected to fall to 27.9 per cent in 2017–18, below its pre-recession low, putting the Government on track to meeting its target of 25 per cent by 2021.
• Canada’s total government net debt burden is the lowest of any Group of Seven (G-7) country and among the lowest of the advanced G-20 countries.
• The Government will introduce balanced budget legislation to enshrine in law its prudent approach to fiscal planning.
• To support debt reduction, the Government is planning on dedicating the amounts set aside for contingencies, if not required, to reduce the federal debt.
• To ensure that the Government continues to do business with ethical suppliers in Canada and abroad, a new government-wide procurement integrity framework will be introduced.
• The Government is also proposing new measures as part of its ongoing effort to strengthen tax compliance, and improve the fairness and integrity of the tax system, to ensure everyone pays their fair share.