Canada's new budget is in the works and you can vote on how the feds spend your tax money
If you've got opinions on how the federal government should handle your tax dollars over the next few years, now's your chance to speak up — and you can give your input in a few simple clicks.
Consultations are officially open for Canada's Budget 2025, and the Department of Finance wants to hear from you (yes, you) before they lock in the details this fall.
From cost of living struggles to building a stronger economy, the government says it's looking to Canadians from all walks of life to help shape what the next federal budget will look like. And with prices still high on everything from housing to groceries, you might want to weigh in to tell them what's most important to you.
In an announcement on Monday, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne invited Canadians to have their say on key priorities by filling out a quick online questionnaire — or sending a longer email or letter, if you've got lots to say.
The feds say the new budget will "spend less and invest more" to tackle big challenges — like affordability, housing and economic growth — while also trying to turn Canada into a major economic player on the world stage. But they want to know exactly how you think they should achieve that.
"We are eager to hear from Canadians from coast to coast to coast on their priorities and perspectives as we seize this opportunity to shape Canada's future," Champagne said in a release on Monday.
The goal, he added, is to "build the strongest economy in the G7 and reinvent government for the 21st century" — and they want your ideas to help guide that vision.
The Department of Finance says Budget 2025 builds on recently instated moves like the middle-class tax cut — which can save a two-income family up to $840 a year — and removing the GST on new homes under $1 million for first-time buyers.
So, what exactly can you have a say on?
The online survey, available at Canada.ca/YourBudget, asks Canadians how the federal government can best support them — from cutting everyday costs and creating more jobs to addressing tariff threats and expanding access to health care.
It also seeks opinions on where the feds should invest taxpayer money when it comes to addressing defence, security and building the economy.
Most questions are multiple choice, with options to vote on priorities like removing interprovincial trade barriers, building pipelines, improving health care access, making education and training more affordable, and more. There are even spots where you can write in your own suggestions if they're not already on the list.
The online questionnaire has just 10 questions and takes about five minutes to complete. You can also send in a formal letter if you've got more to say — either by email or by regular mail to the Department of Finance Canada in Ottawa.
The deadline to participate is August 28, and after that, the Department of Finance will be reviewing the feedback and using it — alongside research — to help shape the final Budget 2025 rollout later this year.
So if you've ever had a thought like, "Why does the government spend so much on that?" or, "I wish they'd invest more in this" — now's your moment to be heard.
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