2011 Canadian federal budget


The Canadian federal budget for the 2011–12 fiscal year was presented to the House of Commons of Canada by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty on March 22, 2011, then again on June 6 following a May 2 election.
On June 13, "the budget passed by a vote of 167 to 131, with four Bloc Québécois MPs voting in support and the other opposition parties voting against it".

Proposals

Legislative history

All three opposition parties rejected the budget in statements made after the budget speech:
A motion of non-confidence was passed on March 25, 2011. While this motion, which found the government in contempt of Parliament, did not relate specifically to the budget, it had the practical effect of dissolving parliament and killing any legislation under consideration.

Post-election

Federal elections were held May 2, 2011. The Conservatives went from a minority position in the House of Commons to a majority, paving the way for the re-introduction of the measures contained in the budget.
Initiatives from the budget were included in 2 draft bills:
  • Those related to the Guaranteed Income Supplement were included in Bill C-3 which was adopted on third reading on 21 June 2011 by 158 votes for version 133 votes against. This bill received support from all 155 Conservatives voting MPs, 2 Bloc MPs and Elizabeth May, the only Green MP. All voting NDP and Liberal MPs voted against the bill. The bill received royal assent on 26 June 2011.
  • Most tax-related initiatives were included in Bill C-13 which was adopted on third reading on 21 November 2011 by 153 votes for versus 127 against. Only Conservative MPs voted for the bill, every vote cast by NDP, Liberal, Bloc and Green MPs were against the bill. The bill received royal assent on 15 December 2011.