The Government of Canada is set to release Budget 2024 on April 16th, with Minister Freeland facing the difficult task of balancing numerous spending demands (e.g., affordability, housing, infrastructure, healthcare, national pharmacare) and shoring up long-term fiscal sustainability. The federal government’s most recent projections (Fall Economic Statement, November 2023) have not outlined a path towards a balanced budget, while there are growing concerns about Canada’s slow economic growth and weak productivity performance. As such, Budget 2024 will be keenly watched for how it responds to these challenges and whether more fundamental reforms to raise growth can be expected.

With his extensive experience of working on federal government budget issues – including becoming Canada’s first Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) – Kevin Page will join ESNA to discuss Budget 2024 and its ramifications.
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April 18, 2024 | Virtual | Noon - 1:00 pm

Speaker: Kevin Page

Kevin Page is the founding President and CEO of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy (IFSD) at the University of Ottawa. Prior to founding the IFSD, Kevin spent almost three decades working on budget-oriented roles across the federal public service, including with the Department of Finance, the Treasury Board Secretariat, and the Privy Council Office, before becoming Canada’s first Parliamentary Budget Officer from 2008 until 2013.

Kevin completed his undergraduate education at Ontario University (Ontario) and Simon Fraser University (British- Columbia), he has an M.A. in Economics from Queen’s University, an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Lakehead University, and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of York (United Kingdom).

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