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October 19, 2000
'Mini-Budget' fails to address widening gap between rich and poor
OTTAWA - The CCSD is disappointed that there were no major new social investments to help Canadians grow together by narrowing the growing gap between rich and poor in yesterday's Economic Statement.
The Economic Statement leans heavily towards further tax relief, as opposed to new investment in social programs. However, it should be noted that substantial surplus amounts remain to be allocated in this and future fiscal years. Notably, $6.2 billion of surplus remains to be allocated when the actual 2001-02 Budget is introduced.
"In the wake of major middle and upper class tax cuts, social advocates must insist that the first priority for future surpluses must be social spending," said Marcel Lauzière, Executive Director of the CCSD. "With an election coming, the time to discuss these things is now."
The CCSD gives the government credit for new increases in child benefits, disability credits, support for students and special payments to meet home heating costs, coming on top of the new investments in health and children recently agreed upon with the provinces.
However, yesterday's statement gives significant tax relief to the more affluent. "These measures will widen the already large and growing inequalities of income and opportunity in Canada," warns Andrew Jackson, CCSD Director of Research. "We now need further social investments to ensure that Canadians grow together rather than continue to grow apart."
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The CCSD's Analysis of the Economic Statement, as well as the full text of the CCSD's recent submission to the Standing Committee on Finance, is currently available on our website, at: www.ccsd.ca/briefs.htm
Canadian Council on Social Development,
190 O'Connor Street, Suite 100,
Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 2R3
Tel: (613) 236-8977, Fax: (613) 236-2750, Web: www.ccsd.ca, Email: council@ccsd.ca
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