Canada’s New Government cuts wasteful programs, refocuses spending on priorities, achieves major debt reduction as promised

Focusing on the priorities of Canadians:

Canadians want to know their hard-earned tax dollars are invested responsibly in effective programs that meet their priorities.  Responsible spending is a cornerstone of accountable government.

In Budget 2006, Canada’s New Government committed to identify $1 billion in savings from programs and activities that are no longer effective.

We have found savings in these four areas:

1. Programs that weren’t providing good value for money for Canadians.  For example, we are saving $13.9 million by not going forward with the High-Frequency Surface Radar project because access to the radio spectrum to operate this system is not available.
2. Unused funds from programs that have already achieved their objectives or had lower than expected take-up.  For example, we are saving $15 million by having settled the softwood lumber deal.  The previous government never believed it could get the deal done, so it had set large amounts of money aside to pay lawyers.
3. Efficiency savings by streamlining programs.  For example, we are saving $4.5 million by consolidating some foreign missions.  With the advances in telecommunication, in many cases in countries with multiple missions, work can more easily and effectively be done from a central location.
4. Non-core programs.  We will save $4 million through the elimination of funding for the research into Medical Marijuana.  Canada’s New Government has made big commitments to health research, and doesn’t believe the federal government needs to tell professional researchers what to study.