Category: ESPC Publications: Fact Sheets

Budget 2015 covers the period from April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016 corresponding to the 2015-16 fiscal year (FY). Due to the change in government on May 5, this budget replaces the March 2015 budget that was tabled but never passed by the previous government. In this Fact Sheet, Budget 2015 refers to the current budget introduced on October 27, 2015.

Budget 2015 forecasts a deficit of $6.1 billion, an increase of $1.1 billion from March. The larger deficit is due to several factors: reversing Conservative cuts to people services to cover inflation and population growth, a further drop in energy prices below levels forecast in March, and additional costs for forest fires and crop losses due to the summer drought. While the forecast deficit is a record in dollar terms, as a percentage of the overall budget, it is less than half that of budgets in the mid-1980s when there was a similar dramatic decline in energy prices.

ESPC Documents/Fact Sheets/Fact_Sheet_Alberta_Budget_2015.pdf

The ESPC has released its annual analysis of the federal government’s 2015 budget.

Highlights from this Fact Sheet include:

• Budget is sort on detail and long on spin;
• Few changes to Child Tax Benefits/National Child Benefit;
• Few benefit from Family Tax Cut;
• Universal Child Care Benefit increased;
• Children’s Tax Fitness Credit doubled;
• Tax-Free Saving Account maximum doubled;
• EI compassionate care leave lengthened;
• CMHC coop housing mortgages replaced by lower private sector mortgages;
• Public Transit Funding to cities boosted;
• Modest improvements for Aboriginal communities.

Click to download: fACT Sheet – Federal Budget 2015

Click to view budget

The ESPC has released its annual analysis of the federal government’s 2015 budget.

Highlights from this Fact Sheet include:

• budget is sort on detail and long on spin
• few changes to Child Tax Benefits/National Child Benefit
• Few benefit from Family Tax Cut
• Universal Child Care Benefit increased
• Children’s Tax Fitness Credit doubled
• Tax-Free Saving Account maximum doubled
• EI compassionate care leave lengthened
• CMHC coop housing mortgages replaced by lower private sector mortgages
• Public Transit Funding to cities boosted
• Modest improvements for Aboriginal communities

ESPC Documents/PUBLICATIONS/A.06.B FACT SHEETS/fACT_sheet_Federal_Budget_2015.pdf

Literacy has been broadly defined by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as “understanding, evaluating, using and engaging with written texts to articipate in society, to achieve one’s goals, and to develop one’s knowledge and potential”. In addition, literacy also involves numeracy, defined by the OECD as “the ability to engage with mathematical information in order to manage the mathematical demands of a range of situations in everyday life.” Low levels of literacy reduce a person’s ability to carry out basic daily activities. For example, this may mean the inability to work, use public transportation or understand important documents necessary to receive medical or social services. Providing all Canadians with meaningful opportunities to develop and sustain quality literary skills will result in stronger communities bolstered by active participation in economic, employment, health, and social systems.

Click here to download:  fACT Sheet – Literacy (2015)

The ESPC has released its annual analysis of the Government of Alberta’s 2015 Budget.

Highlights from this Fact Sheet include:

• No increases in corporate tax rates or royalties
• Introduction of a Health Care Contribution Levy
• Increase to Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit
• Decrease in Housing First program
• Reduction in rent supplements
• Income support frozen
• Human Services programs mostly forzen

ESPC Documents/Fact Sheets/fact_sheet_budget_2015.pdf

The ESPC has released its annual analysis of the Government of Alberta’s 2015 Budget.

Highlights from this Fact Sheet include:

• No increases in corporate tax rates or royalties
• Introduction of a Health Care Contribution Levy
• Increase to Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit
• Decrease in Housing First program
• Reduction in rent supplements
• Income support frozen
• Human Services programs mostly frozen

Click to download: fACT Sheet – Alberta Budget 2015

Click to view Budget