Here is my latest analysis of the financial position of the Federal Government of Canada.

1. Fiscal Management
Cycle – Canada
Paul Young CPA CGA
September 26, 2020

2. Paul Young - Bio
• CPA, CGA
• Academia (PF1, FA4 and MS2)
• SME – Risk Management
• SME – Close, Consolidate and Reporting
• SME – Public Policy
• SME – Emerging Technology
• SME – Financial Solutions
• SME – Business Process Change
• SME – Supply Chain Management
Contact information:
Paul_Young_CGA@Hotmail.com

3. Introduction
This presentation looks at key planks by
the Liberals as well as fiscal
management cycle for each party.
Federal government has undertaken
$252B+ in deficit spending as part of the
COVID19 response.

4. Agenda
• FY 19/20 – Fiscal Management Cycle – Canada
• FY 20/21 – Fiscal Management – Federal
Government
• FY 20/21 – Fiscal Management Cycle –
Provinces
• Credit Downgrade
• Size of Government
• GDP Growth / Provinces
• Job Quality – USA vs Canada
• GDP / Canada
• Key Metrics / GDP comments
• Importance of Audit (Operational and
Performance Audit)
• PBO / Deficit
• Paul Martin years
• 1980-1982 Recession
• 2009 Recession
• Failure of Trudeanomics

5. Federal Government FY
19/20
Source –
Government of
Canada

6. Fiscal Management – 2020/2021
Source – Government of Canada

7. Throne Speech / September 2020
• Here is my critique of the throne speech -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/what-is-next-for-canada-
throne-speech-september-23-2020
• Fitch - https://www.fitchratings.com/research/sovereigns/canadas-spending-
pledges-to-push-federal-deficit-higher-still-25-09-2020 or
https://www.westernstandardonline.com/2020/09/bond-agency-issues-
warning-to-trudeau-about-throne-speech-spending-plans/
• CFIB - https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/en/media/news-releases/cfib-comment-
federal-speech-throne
• Chamber of Commerce -
https://www.kelownachamber.org/news/post/533/Canadian_Chamber_Thron
e_Speech_a_start_but_much_more_is_needed_to_get_Canadians_back_to_
work/
• Retail Council - https://www.retailcouncil.org/province/national/rcc-
statement-on-the-governments-speech-from-the-throne/
• Natural Resources - https://www.energeticcity.ca/2020/09/not-much-there-
for-resource-sector-in-throne-speech-says-zimmer/

8. 20/21 – FY – Federal Govt
Source – BMO - https://economics.bmo.com/en/publications/detail/2a38b360-554f-462c-bf26-62300c6ce3c7/

9. 20/21 – FY – Federal Govt
Source – BMO - https://economics.bmo.com/en/publications/detail/2a38b360-554f-462c-bf26-62300c6ce3c7/

10. Waste / Stimulus
Source – Fraser Institute - https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/federal-government-wasting-billions-on-
poorly-targeted-assistance

11. Downgradi
ng of Debt
Source -
https://economics.bmo.com/
en/publications/detail/5f3625
7b-4df7-443b-b5d2-
c348e290327c/
Fitch Rating
itch Ratings - New York - 24 Jun 2020: Fitch Ratings has downgraded Canada's Long-Term Foreign Currency Issuer Default Rating
(IDR) to 'AA+' from 'AAA'. The Rating Outlook is Stable.
KEY RATING DRIVERS
The rating downgrade reflects the deterioration of Canada's public finances in 2020 resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.
Canada will run a much expanded general government deficit in 2020 and emerge from recession with much higher public debt
ratios. The higher deficit is largely driven by public spending to counteract a sharp fall in output as parts of the economy were
shuttered to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Although this will support recovery, the economy's investment and growth
prospects face challenges.
The Stable Outlook reflects Fitch's expectation that Canada's consolidated gross general government debt/GDP will stabilize
over the medium term, in line with the pre-coronavirus policies, and that the economy will gradually recover, supported by
significant counter-cyclical monetary and fiscal policies.
Canada's structural strengths also underpin the ratings. These include its advanced, well-diversified and high-income economy,
and Canada's political stability, strong governance and macro policy framework, which has delivered steady growth and low
inflation. Canada has a large positive net international investment position, driven by its foreign pension assets. However,
reliance on foreign portfolio flows to finance sustained current account deficits is a weakness, which has contributed to a
persistent and growing level of net external debt.
Source: https://www.fitchratings.com/research/sovereigns/fitch-downgrades-canada-ratings-to-aa-outlook-stable-24-06-2020
Summary
 Lower bond rating means higher interest rates as bond raters will demand a premium for Cdn bonds
 Trudeau was warned about the govt debt, but Morneau kept saying all was well -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/debt-and-insolvency-global-crisis
 Trudeau has failed the goods producing sector with his carbon tax, small business tax reforms, excessive regulations, weak
infrastructure spending, etc. - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/what-is-going-on-with-canadas-competitiveness
 Natural Resources were struggling since late last years as Trudeau stood back when there was blockades and other issues.
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/canada-natural-resources-sector-whats-next

12. Fitch / Canada
Source - https://www.fitchratings.com/research/sovereigns/canadas-growing-deficit-raises-fiscal-consolidation-risks-27-08-2020

13. Size of Government
Source - https://www.blacklocks.ca/average-staffer-costs-115k/
https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/pbo-more-spending-not-more-workers-driving-costs-for-federal-
employees-1.1492043

14. 20/21 – FY – Federal Govt
Source – BMO, Finance Canada, Scotiabank, CIBC, RBC and TD Economics

15. FY 20/21 – Fiscal Management
Cycle – Provinces
Source - BMO

16. GDP Growth / Provinces
Source – RBC Economics

17. Job Quality

18. GDP / June 2020
• Canada’s economy is going to face many hurdles due to many factors like taxation burden
and over regulations - Source - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/gdp-by-industry-
canada-june-2020
• Canada should be focusing on policies that get goods to market -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/how-best-to-get-goods-to-market

19. Job Quality
I have worked in corporate finance for nearly 30 years as such I
have never seen a govt willing to destroy the goods-producing
sector along with small businesses to push the green agenda.
@JustinTrudeau is a failure!
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/what-is-next-for-canada-
throne-speech-september-23-2020

20. GDP and restructuring
• Many of the economies continue to be impacted by COVID19 –
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/scorecard-liberal-party-of-
canada-fiscal-and-economic
• Post-COVID 19 economy should include a focus on supply
management - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/scorecard-
liberal-party-of-canada-fiscal-and-economic
• Countries around the world are going need to push for trade reforms
including reforming of key groups like WHO and WTO –
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/global-economy-whats-
next
• All levels of governments around the world will require a
restructuring - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/public-
sector-how-to-reform-all-levels-of-government

21. Importance of Audits
• More oversight i.e. Infrastructure funding -
https://nationalpost.com/news/opposition-pushes-for-audit-of-
trudeaus-187b-infrastructure-plans-underscoring-weakened-
liberal-position-in-house or medical supplies -
https://thepostmillennial.com/trudeau-governments-medical-
equipment-blunder-cost-taxpayers-1-8-billion
• In times of fiscal crisis there is need for more oversight and audits
- https://ipolitics.ca/2020/05/12/auditor-general-says-lack-of-
funding-covid-19-demands-have-put-all-but-three-audits-on-
pause/
Source - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/the-importance-
of-value-for-money-and-perfomance-based-audits

22. Departmental Issues
1. Liberals have created a new entity called the Ocean Super cluster. This entity seems to be a duplicate of what work
is already being done through the fisheries agencies - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/aquaculture-fish-
farming-and-harvesting-analysis (see slide 17)
2. I have reviewed the coast guard and there are issues with the Coast Guard -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/government-policy-public-safety-canada-coast-guard
3. Trudeau has not been clear about 5G, especially in terms of contracts -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/global-security-threats-from-5g-leads-to-new-selection-of-5g-vendors
4. CRA needs to revisit its mandate in terms of auditing charities as well as shutting down tax havens -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/closing-down-of-tax-havens
5. I have seen little discussion on the cannabis policy including mental health as well as enforcement costs -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/government-policy-legalization-of-cannabis-canada
6. More work needs to be done to reform the delivery of healthcare -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/whats-next-for-global-healthcare-post-covid19
7. Liberals policies for the AG sector need to have a full review - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/whats-
next-for-farming-in-canada-analysis-of-economic-and-government-policies
8. eCommerce continues to expand as such so should the policies of the government -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/ecommerce-whats-next
9. The government needs a performance audit of its youth employment policies -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/canada-youth-development
10. There needs to be performance audit of CERB as part of moving people off of CERB -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/policy-analysis-guarantee-income

23. Departmental Issues
1. Commercial Rent - https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/trudeau-government-paying-84m-to-firm-employing-katie-telfords-husband-to-
manage-rent-assistance-aid-program?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1596846898 Trudeau government
paying $84M to firm employing Katie Telford's husband to manage rent assistance aid program. This another example of awarding friends without
having the AG do performance audits.- https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-spouse-of-pms-chief-of-staff-had-meeting-on-liberals-rent-
relief/
2. EV sales have been sluggish despite the government support - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/analysis-electrical-vehicle-market
3. Masks companies with no facilities - https://torontosun.com/news/national/questions-arise-about-quebec-companys-federal-contract-for-masks -
Other companies were already producing masks - https://betakit.com/ppe-manufacturer-the-canadian-shield-launches-new-surgical-mask-line/ or
https://www.dupont.ca/en/personal-protective-equipment.html
4. Foreign Aid – There are still issues with reporting including performance audits - The distribution of Foreign Aid is very important to countries as part of
helping developing countries improve water, education, farming practices, infrastructure, and other areas of their economy.
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/foreign-aid-bringing-more-accountability-transparency-and-oversight
5. Telefilm Canada releases its audit report - https://www.oag-
bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/mr_20200727_e_43597.html “We found that the corporation had some good
corporate management practices in place. However, we found areas for improvement in practices related to
board oversight; board independence; performance measurement, monitoring, and reporting; and risk
mitigation, monitoring, and reporting
6. Payroll management system - https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/2020-foag-pm/index-
en.aspx
7. Lack of oversight / Beirut mission - https://www.international.gc.ca/gac-amc/publications/audits-
verification/2019/beirut-beyrouth.aspx?lang=eng
8. Audit of all COVID19 programs - https://www.todayville.com/191820-2/

24. PBO / Deficit
• CERB / extension cost “Eight more weeks of CERB to cost $17.9 billion,
budget officer says” https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cerb-extension-pbo-
1.5623507
• Federal deficit will be much larger “The parliamentary budget officer says in a
new report that this year's federal deficit could hit $256 billion due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. The result, posted this morning, is the combination of
an estimated total of $169 billion in federal spending on emergency aid and a
historic drop in economic output. The budget office estimates the economy
could shrink by 6.8 per cent in 2020, the weakest showing since 1981 and
double the record of 3.2 per cent shrinkage in 1982. The overall deficit figure
is only $3.8 billion higher than budget officer Yves Giroux's previous
predictions, which his report says is due to a better economic outlook in the
second half of the year that offsets some new spending. ”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/federal-deficit-pbo-1.5617221
• Government will require restructuring as part of post-covid19 -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/transforming-the-public-sector-
canada

25. PBO
• Issues with losses at Crown Corporations -
https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/pbo-flags-high-borrowing-
unusual-losses-at-crown-corporations-in-report-1.5027186
• Paid leave / government -
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/pbo-report-699-
leave-during-covid-1.5661696 (Cost of leave has led to
$632M Productivity losses)

26. Paul Martin years
• It never seems to amaze me how little people research history. It is like they
take scripts from Liberals sites as the only source of the truth. The problem is
Liberals like any other party will not tell you the complete truth,
• https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/2019-election-fiscal-management-
canada-june-2019 (see slide 26)
• Slashed transfers – Trudeau had no issues with slashing transfers under Paul
Martin - https://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/justin-trudeau-weighs-in-on-
paul-martins-decision-to-slash-provincial-transfers/. Harper did fiscal discipline
and Trudeau calls that out - https://www.liberal.ca/growing-our-economy-ralph-
goodale/. No were does Trudeau and his team mention how Harper left $1B
surplus YTD Nov/15 - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/the-stephen-
harper-years-pm-of-canada
• Restructure EI including taking surpluses into operations -
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/government-broke-law-on-ei-financing-in-3-
years-top-court-1.750084

27. 1980-1982 Recession – Pierre Trudeau
• 1980-1982 Recession
• High interest rates
• Movement away from the branch manufacturing approach to
manufacturing
• High government debt and deficits
• https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/unemployment-reaches-all-time-high-in-
1982
Similarities
• 2020 will see labor force change due to automation - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/whats-next-for-
automation-private-and-public-sector
• Youth unemployment will be an issue due to many lacking the skills required for today and tomorrow’s workplace -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/automation-and-human-capital-management-human-resources
• Issue is not with interest rates, but the size of the debt - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/covid19-global-
debt-crisis-july-2020
• Inflation is creeping up in Canada but is nowhere near the 14% -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/affordability-analysis-and-commentary-canada-june-2020 . There are
issues with food prices as well as wage growth - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/analysis-wages-and-
employment-canada-may-2020

28. 2009 Recession
The Great Recession that began in 2008 led to some of the highest recorded rates of unemployment and home
foreclosures in the U.S. since the Great Depression. Catalyzed by the crisis in subprime mortgage-backed
securities, the crisis spread to mutual funds, pensions, and the corporations that owned these securities, with
widespread national and global impacts. Ten years after the onset of the crisis, the impacts on workers and
economic inequality persist. In a series of policy briefs, IRLE will highlight work by Berkeley faculty on the causes
and long-term effects of the Recession. In this brief, we review research from IRLE faculty affiliate and UC
Berkeley sociologist Neil Fligstein on the root causes of the Great Recession.
Source - https://irle.berkeley.edu/what-really-caused-the-great-recession/
Government action:
• Government did a stimulus as part of supporting the economy
• Loans to business
• Infrastructure spending
• Liberals backed by NDP and Bloc demanded the stimulus -
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/liberals-ndp-bloc-sign-deal-on-proposed-coalition-
1.700119
• Harper years - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/the-stephen-harper-years-pm-
of-canada

29. Failure of
Trudeaunomics
• The sad thing is the economy has been sliding for a few years due to Trudeaunomics being a failure!
• https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/failure-of-trudeaunomics
• Carbon tax and other changes have made things less affordable - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/justin-trudeau-
and-liberals-have-liberal-policies-made-things-more-affordable-for-canadians
• GDP growth pre-COVID was running at 2.0% which is about the same rate as the past 20 years -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/canada-slow-growth-liberal-party-of-canada-december-7-2016
• Trudeau introduce policies that did little to get goods to market or support small business -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/canada-whats-next-for-small-business or
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/canada-natural-resources-sector-whats-next
• There has been a job quality issues as Trudeau’s policies did little to support goods producing sector -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/job-quality-canada-235057299
• Trudeau continues to push guarantee income despite guarantee income being a failure around the world -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/is-guarantee-income-the-right-approach-for-canada-and-other-countries

30. Departmental Issues
1. Liberals have created a new entity called the Ocean Super cluster. This entity seems to be a duplicate of what work
is already being done through the fisheries agencies - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/aquaculture-fish-
farming-and-harvesting-analysis (see slide 17)
2. I have reviewed the coast guard and there are issues with the Coast Guard -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/government-policy-public-safety-canada-coast-guard
3. Trudeau has not been clear about 5G, especially in terms of contracts -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/global-security-threats-from-5g-leads-to-new-selection-of-5g-vendors
4. CRA needs to revisit its mandate in terms of auditing charities as well as shutting down tax havens -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/closing-down-of-tax-havens
5. I have seen little discussion on the cannabis policy including mental health as well as enforcement costs -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/government-policy-legalization-of-cannabis-canada
6. More work needs to be done to reform the delivery of healthcare -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/whats-next-for-global-healthcare-post-covid19
7. Liberals policies for the AG sector need to have a full review - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/whats-
next-for-farming-in-canada-analysis-of-economic-and-government-policies
8. eCommerce continues to expand as such so should the policies of the government -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/ecommerce-whats-next
9. The government needs a performance audit of its youth employment policies -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/canada-youth-development
10. There needs to be performance audit of CERB as part of moving people off of CERB -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/policy-analysis-guarantee-income

31. Departmental Issues
1. Commercial Rent - https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/trudeau-government-paying-84m-to-firm-employing-katie-telfords-
husband-to-manage-rent-assistance-aid-
program?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1596846898 Trudeau government paying $84M
to firm employing Katie Telford's husband to manage rent assistance aid program. This another example of awarding friends without
having the AG do performance audits. - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/policy-review-commercial-rent-subsidy-federal-
program-canada
2. EV sales have been sluggish despite the government support - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/analysis-electrical-vehicle-
market
3. Foreign Aid – There are still issues with reporting including performance audits - The distribution of Foreign Aid is very important to
countries as part of helping developing countries improve water, education, farming practices, infrastructure, and other areas of their
economy. https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/foreign-aid-bringing-more-accountability-transparency-and-oversight
4. Telefilm Canada releases its audit report - https://www.oag-
bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/mr_20200727_e_43597.html “We found that the corporation had
some good corporate management practices in place. However, we found areas for
improvement in practices related to board oversight; board independence; performance
measurement, monitoring, and reporting; and risk mitigation, monitoring, and reporting
5. Payroll management system - https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/2020-foag-
pm/index-en.aspx
6. Lack of oversight / Beirut mission - https://www.international.gc.ca/gac-
amc/publications/audits-verification/2019/beirut-beyrouth.aspx?lang=eng
7. Audit of all COVID19 programs - https://www.todayville.com/191820-2/

32. Departmental Issues
• Global Affairs went with higher contract with China firm vs lower bid from Canadian Firm
(scanning equipment) - https://nationalpost.com/opinion/john-ivison-ottawas-fig-leaf-excuse-for-inviting-chinese-x-
rays-into-canadas-embassies-just-blew-away
• Government continues to create new entities to managed moneys when existing programs like
Western Development fund could handle the moneys -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/market-food-protein-market-analysis-and-commentary
• Government has failed on the marijuana pardon system -
https://www.leafly.com/news/canada/canadas-marijuana-sentence-expungement-suspension-
program-is-failing-heres-why - “COVID19 did not help the process, but there was backlog before
COVID19”

33. Summary
• Canada will have a long road a head when it
comes to fixing its economy and fiscal
management cycle by all levels of government -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/canad
a-gdp-and-economy-truth-and-what-needs-to-
change
• Canada will need a plan that deals with job
quality, fdi, goods producing sector, affordable
housing, tax fairness and value for money social
programs -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/transf
orming-the-economy-postcovid19-canada-and-
the-world
• Getting goods to market -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/how-
to-address-issues-facing-getting-goods-to-
market
• Reforming Government -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/how-
to-reform-the-public-sector-in-canada-and-
around-the-world

34. Other
Sources
• If you like to learn
more about trade
and/or other
subjects as part of
your professional
learning and
development then
feel free to review
my material on
https://www.udemy.
com/ (search Paul
Young CPA CGA