오타와- 재무장관 Ralph Goodale 씨가 소수정권으로서는, 1979년 이후, 처음으로 수요일(2월 23일) 호후, 금년도 예산안을 의회에 제출했다. 소수정권으로, 야당의 동의를 얻어내기위한 선심성 세금절감, 선거공약 이행 약속을 포함하고 있음을 확인해 주는 내용으로 골격이 잡혀 있다. 재무장관을 맡은 이후로, Goodale씨로서는 두번째 예산안 제출인 셈인데,국민들로 부터 거두어들인 세금은, 국방, 환경, 지방자치단체와의 유대강화 하는데 쓰여지고, 세금부담을 경감시키는 내용으로 "캐나다인들은 우리 정부의 공약 이행이 실질적으로 이행되는것을 기대해도 좋다" 라고 언급하면서, 향후 5년간의 재정계획이 포함된 예산안을 의회에 제출한것이다. 전통에 따라 수요일 오후에 제출된 예산안 - 8년 연속 균형예산 - 은 향후 5년간 420억 달러를 새로운 프로젝트에 사용하고, 2005-6년 회계년도에는 40억 달러의 흑자 재정을 낼것이라고 내다봤다. 1979년도당시, 소수정권으로 집권한 Joe Clark 수상이 이끄는 보수당이 의회에 제출한 예산안이 당시 야당이었던, 자유당의 동조을 얻지못해, 부결되여, 약 9개월만에 정권을 내주게된 기억을 이번 자유당 소수정권은 약삭 바르게 잘 이용하는것을 봅니다. 현 야당인 보수당도, 예산안 발표후 기자회견에서, 예산안 내용에 만족(?)을 표시하면서, 표결시 통과되도록 협조하겠다고 발표하기도 합니다. 그러나 우리 한인사회와 관련이 많은 소규모 자영업자들을 위한 배려 흔적은 보이지가 않는것 같습니다. 예산안 주요 골자는 다음과 같다. Big ticket items A five-year spending plan that costs $41.8-billion. $12.7-billion — in tax relief for personal taxes, RRSP contribution limits, reducing corporate surtax and realigning capital cost allowance rates $12.8 billion over five years to boost 5,000 troops, along with 3,000 additional reservists. operational readiness, purchase new medium-capacity helicopters, trucks, utility aircraft and specialized facilities for Canada's elite anti-terrorist troops. $11-billion in savings identified by the Government's Expenditure Review Committee. Mostly from "improved efficiencies" $5-billion for a framework for day care Share $5 billion in gas tax revenues with cities over the next five years for investments in sustainable infrastructure. It will start at $600-million this year, rising to $2-billion in 2009—10. $3-billion over five years in new funding for environment with a total of $5-billion. $1.6-billion for heritage, arts and sports Balanced budgets or better in 2004—05 and in each of the next five fiscal years. To reduce Canada's debt-to-GDP ratio to 25 percent by 2014—15. Taxes: boost tax-free limit to $10,000, removing 860,000 people from tax rolls RRSP contribution limits boosted to $22,000. Also, eliminating 30 per cent foreign property limit on pensions. Corporate surtax lowered to 19 per cent from 21 per cent. Capital cost allowance rates "better aligned" Big ticket items A five-year spending plan that costs $41.8-billion. $12.7-billion — in tax relief for personal taxes, RRSP contribution limits, reducing corporate surtax and realigning capital cost allowance rates $12.8 billion over five years to boost 5,000 troops, along with 3,000 additional reservists. operational readiness, purchase new medium-capacity helicopters, trucks, utility aircraft and specialized facilities for Canada's elite anti-terrorist troops. $11-billion in savings identified by the Government's Expenditure Review Committee. Mostly from "improved efficiencies" $5-billion for a framework for day care Share $5 billion in gas tax revenues with cities over the next five years for investments in sustainable infrastructure. It will start at $600-million this year, rising to $2-billion in 2009—10. $3-billion over five years in new funding for environment with a total of $5-billion. $1.6-billion for heritage, arts and sports Balanced budgets or better in 2004—05 and in each of the next five fiscal years. To reduce Canada's debt-to-GDP ratio to 25 per cent by 2014—15. Taxes: boost tax-free limit to $10,000, removing 860,000 people from tax rolls RRSP contribution limits boosted to $22,000. Also, eliminating 30 per cent foreign property limit on pensions. Corporate surtax lowered to 19 per cent from 21 per cent. Capital cost allowance rates "better aligned"