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Ottawa, January 27, 2004
2004-006

Minister of Finance Challenges Business to Broaden its Perspective

Related Document:

• Speech by the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Finance, to the Toronto Board of Trade

Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale today called upon Canada’s business leaders to become more engaged in public policy discussions, not only on economic matters but also on social and international issues that speak to the country’s long-term future.

"The agenda of business can no longer be simply the business agenda," the Minister told members of the Toronto Board of Trade.

Minister Goodale urged business leaders to become engaged in discussions on such major issues as education, transportation, the environment and economic development to help foster a new decade of achievement for Canada and its citizens.

"Canada needs not only your good common sense, but your sense of the common good," the Minister said.

Minister Goodale added that a key element in creating a new decade of achievement is a continued emphasis on sound fiscal management. The Government has already taken significant steps to bring spending under control in order to maintain its track record of balanced budgets while continuing to provide programs and services that Canadians view as essential. These steps include a cap on the size of the federal public service, a freeze on new government capital spending and the launch of a detailed review of all government expenditures.

"I can assure you today that we will not go back into the red," the Minister stated. "We will balance the federal budget this year and as far into the future as we can presently foresee."

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