Author: Hon. Joe Volpe

The politics behind some budget expenditures

TORONTO – Much is being made of the spending by the current government in areas to achieve national objectives. The Annual “tabling of the Main Estimate” in Parliament usually starts the debate for what expenditures need to be approved by Parliament. It is a sizeable amount of money $449.2 billion, roughly 22% of GDP. It does not include annual expenditures by provinces, municipalities and others agencies with taxing powers. 

Priorities: deportation or immigration?

TORONTO – We are entering a pre-election period. There is never a better indicator than when issues revolving around the proverbial ‘political whipping boy’ are trotted out for public debate. As per the main estimates for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC), 2024-25, plan is focused on permanent residents’ admissions targets of 485,000 in 2024 and stabilizing at 500,000 thereafter.