The Carney government presented its first federal budget Tuesday's document, marked by high spending, lower immigration targets and various cuts, underscored Canada's need to confront a “generational” problem amid a “disruptive” trade war.
The government's 2025 budget calls for $141.4 billion in new spending, offset by projected savings of $51.7 billion over the next five years, with the deficit projected at $78.3 billion this year.
Here are a few little things you may have missed, but that matter to you.
Currently, the price of a postage stamp in Canada is regulated. Canada Post says it has “minimized regulated postage rate increases” over the past decade.
In its budget Tuesday, the government announced its plan to amend the Canada Post Corporation Act to deregulate postal rate setting.
For stamps purchased in booklet, roll or panel, which make up the majority of stamp sales, the rate increases by 25 cents in January to $1.24 per stamp. The price of one domestic stamp rose from $1.15 to $1.44, Canada Post said. said at the time about the latest price increase.
There are few details on this proposal at this time.
Expansion of EI parental benefits
The government announced it would amend the Employment Insurance Act to allow claimants receiving EI parental benefits to receive an additional eight weeks of parental benefits if a child dies.
Currently, if there is a death of a child Although parental benefit is paid, parents are no longer entitled to it from the week following the loss.
The federal government is also creating a new model for the National Public Alert System, Tuesday's budget said.
The four-year budget calls for spending $55.4 million on the system, which would provide alerts on everything from imminent natural disasters, extreme weather events and security threats to reports of missing or abducted children.
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It is not yet clear what this system will look like.
So far, 2025 has become the second worst wildfire season in Canadian history, with more than 6,000 wildfires in nearly every province and territory, Public Safety Canada reports. said last week.
These wildfires burned more than 8.3 million hectares of land, leading to the evacuation of more than 85,000 people, including more than 45,000 people from 73 indigenous communities.
Tuesday's budget allocates $257.6 million over four years starting next year to Natural Resources Canada “to lease four aircraft to strengthen provincial and territorial aerial firefighting capabilities.”
According to BC InsuranceAbout 5,000 earthquakes occur in Canada each year, with the West Coast particularly vulnerable. He added that there is a 30 per cent risk that Canada will experience a major earthquake within the next 50 years.
According to Insurance Bureau of CanadaMost home insurance plans do not include earthquake protection.
The government said it will consult with federally regulated property and casualty insurers and other stakeholders on how it can ensure “the stability of Canada's insurance sector in the event of an extreme earthquake.”
Last month the government updated Canada Strong Pass for one more summer.
Tuesday's budget allocated $116.3 million over two years, starting in 2025-26, to extend the Canada Strong Pass through the holiday season, from Dec. 12, 2025 to Jan. 15, 2026, and then again through summer 2026.
The pass was announced last spring as a move aimed at boosting tourism and amid Canadians' frustration with the “51st state” rhetoric and tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Figures published by Global News show the pass has been effective, with visits to national museums and parks increasing compared to 2024.
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