The economy has grown at a slower pace than expected
Universal child care benefit boosts program spending
The impact of budget season depends very much on where Canadians live
On the positive side, consumers have more to spend and businessses benefit from lower energy costs
Planners encouraged; Concerns over ORPP
Ontario’s economy is expected to grow by 2.7% this year
Province will hike beer tax, sell majority of Hydro One
Province has a structural deficit of $400 million
Finance Minister Joe Oliver to meet with private sector economists
Until 2006, the federal budget was an established convention. Now, it's just another political document