Canada's economy 'sound and growing,' says Morneau as he unveils fiscal update

Despite a global manufacturing slump and rising world trade tensions, Canada's economy is "sound and growing" at a solid pace, according to an economic update delivered today by Finance Minister Bill Morneau.

The optimistic update points to low unemployment, growing wages and solid business profits as signs the national economy remains strong despite international challenges.

The update contains little in the way of new spending beyond what has been announced already.

But pension and benefits adjustments due to changing long-term interest rates, a new revenue-sharing deal on Hibernia and the recently passed tax cut, among other costs, aredriving up the deficit.

The deficit is pegged to rise to $26.6 billion for the current year up from $14 billion last year, and up from the $19.8 billion projected in the spring budget. It's projected to fall to $11.6 billion by 2024-2025, with the size of the debt relative to the economy remaining flat for the next few years.

Morneau on his Fiscal Update

5 years ago

Duration 1:08

Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau spoke to reporters on Parliament Hill on Monday

In a news conference on Parliament Hill, Morneaudefended the plan to carry ongoing deficits, saying it's necessary to ensure Canadians reap the benefits of a strong economy, including the residents of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador who are experiencing economic anxieties.

"We know that in order to ensure we continue on this positive trajectory, the strong economy that we've seen, the very strong employment numbers, that we should be continuing to invest at an appropriate level, and that's what we are doing with this economic and fiscal update and with the campaign that we ran on," he said.

The update shows an increase of nearly $10 billion in spending since the spring budget, including nearly $5 billion for employee pension and benefits adjustments, nearly $2 billion for a new revenue agreement on the Hibernia oil project in Newfoundland and Labradorandmillions in compensation for dairy farmers harmed by new trade deals.

The government announced a $1.75-billion compensation package for dairy farmers in August, of which $345 million was to be paid out in the first year.

Some of the government's spending is offset by $1.7 billion in increased tax revenue.

Oil-producing provincesfeeling the pinch

Nearly 400,000 new jobs have been created so far in 2019 Canada'sstrongest rate of growth since 2007, according to the Department of Finance.

But not all parts of the country are experiencing the benefits of that growth;Canada's oil-producing provinces arestill feeling the pinch.

"Insufficient export pipeline infrastructure is reducing Canadian crude oil and natural gas prices, meaning lower profits for producers, reduced investment within the industry, fewer good, well-paying jobs for Canadian workers and lost revenues at all levels of government," the report reads.

"These challenges are expected to persist until major projects, such as the Trans Mountain and LNG Canada (pipelines), are completed."

The economic update also earmarks an extra $69 million for compensation payments to provinces for costs associated with asylum seekers entering the country outside of official border points, such as interim housing, social assistance and education.

The update also points to the positive impact of immigration on the country's economy. Since 2015, immigrants have accounted for three-quarters of population growth, resulting in Canada's population growing at its fastest pace in 20 years, and much faster than that of the other G7 economies.

Asked if the government is prepared to respond to a possible recession, Morneau said it is prepared "for all eventualities."

"We already have the strongest balance sheet among G7 countries, we have the lowest level of debt as a function of our economy and what we're projecting is that we're going to be able to reduce that level of debt as a function of our economy, down to 29 per cent during the forecast horizon," he said.

'Made-in-Canada recession'

Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre rejected Morneau's positive outlook, saying that Canada's economic performance lags behind other G7 countries. He said the government is responding to economic challenges by piling up debt, adding "devastating" red tape and creating obstacles to building major projects.

"What we're facing now is the prospect of a made-in-Canada recession," he said.

"When we went into the last downturn in 2008, Canada led the pack. We were the last into the recessionand the first out. It looks like this time that Canada could be in the worst position of our competitors going into the troubled waters ahead."

Opposition MPs slam Liberal Government fiscal update

5 years ago

Duration 1:28

Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre and NDP MP Peter Julian say the Liberal economic plan isn't good enough

NDP finance critic Peter Julian said he was "profoundly disappointed" by the update.

"It's surprising how weak this economic update is when you contrast it with how readily the Liberal majority government was willing to give billions of dollars to Canada's biggest corporations when they were in power," he said.

"Now in a minority Parliament they should be thinking about regular families and communities and they seem to be ignoring that."

'Fiscal house of cards'

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is also disappointed with the update, noting that it does little to help the businesses that are the drivers of the economy. Chief economist Trevin Stratton said the update makes deficits an" enduring fixture" of the fiscal plan and leaves untenable levels of debt to future generations.

"Our perpetual structural deficit will put Canada in a difficult position to use fiscal stimulus should it be required in the event of a widely expected global downturn. Should a foul economic wind blow at anytime in the next fouryears, this fiscal house of cards will inevitably fall," he said in a statement.

Some highlights of the economic update

Economic growth: GDP growth after inflation projected to be 1.7 per cent this year and 1.6 per cent in 2020, second only to the U.S. in the G7 no change from the spring budget. Outside experts are not predicting a recession.

Jobs: Despite a loss of 71,000 jobs in November, 2019 has recorded the highest number of jobs added this decade nearly 400,000.

Deficit: Projected to be $26.6 billion (including $1.5 billion for "risk") a jump of $6.8 billion from the spring budget mostly due to pension and benefit adjustments, a new revenue agreement with Newfoundland and Labrador on Hibernia, compensation for dairy and canola farmers and the recently passed tax cut. Higher expenses were offset by $1.7 billion in higher tax revenues.

Debt: The debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to rise slightly to 31 per cent for 2019-20 and then fall again in 2021-22.