Federal Budgets are key to getting government action on global and domestic poverty. Every year the government introduces a Budget that sets out the choices they have made about spending priorities and how they will raise the money needed. This year more than ever, we need a federal budget to Make Poverty History.
The 2012 Federal Budget will be a critical one as some difficult choices must be made about how to deal with the deficit that has been created by GST and corporate tax cuts and the stimulus spending in response to the global economic recession. Will the government choose to fix the deficit with cuts to aid and other social programs or will it support revenue side solutions such as cutting subsidies to fossil fuels or introducing a Financial Transaction Tax on speculative trading? Will spending cuts undermine the weak recovery in Canada and push us back into recession which also means higher rates of unemployment and more poverty?
Budget Briefs
Each year the Parliamentary Finance Committee holds Pre-Budget Consultations and receives written briefs and holds public hearings in order to gather input from the public on what the Federal Budget should include. Make Poverty History has presented a brief each year for the past 4 years and has had some success in getting support from the Parliamentary Finance Committee in its recommendations for budget priorities.
2011 - We Need a Budget that will Make Poverty History
2010 – We Need a Plan to Make Poverty History
2009 – Let’s Get to the Point
2008 – Let’s Get to the Point
2007 – We Need a Plan to Make Poverty History
Budget Actions
Make Poverty History facilitates ways for supporters to take action on the federal budget to send messages to the Finance Minister and other leaders on the need to make poverty reduction both at home and abroad a major priority in budget decisions.
Current Actions
Alternative Federal Budget
Make Poverty History participates in the Alternative Federal Budget process that involves a broad range of labour, anti-poverty, student, arts, women’s and environment groups working together to show how a budget could address many of the issues of concern to these sectors. The Alternative Federal Budget has supported bold action to reduce poverty both globally and in Canada. Read more information on the Alternative Federal Budget.
Budget Analysis
Make Poverty History has also provided budget analysis on how the federal budget measures up on reducing global and domestic poverty. Some of the analysis of past budgets can be found here:
