Finance Minister Ralph Goodale to Meet with Private Sector Economists

Finance Minister Ralph Goodale will meet with private sector economists from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 11, 2004.

The Minister of Finance meets regularly with the chief economists of major banks and private sector economic forecasting firms to discuss fiscal projections and economic growth forecasts for the current fiscal year and beyond. These projections represent a key part of the Government’s budget development process.

Wednesday’s meeting, which will take place at the Department of Finance Canada (L’Esplanade Laurier, 140 O’Connor Street, Ottawa), will involve an expanded list of economists to provide a greater degree of regional representation.

Minister Goodale will not be available for comment until after Question Period in the lobby of the House of Commons at 3:00 p.m.

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For further information:

Pat Breton
Office of the Minister of Finance
(613) 996-7861

Andrée Houde
Public Affairs and Operations Division
(613) 996-8080