Champagne promises a budget with something for all Canadians — even the opposition

On the eve of presenting his first budget, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne suggested the hotly anticipated document will include measures that even the opposition parties will see worth supporting.

“It’s an investment budget. It’s a generational shift. This is going to be a great moment for the nation,” he told reporters Monday. 

Leaning heavily into the metaphors, Champagne took the pre-budget tradition of buying a new pair of shoes to Boulet Boots, a family-owned manufacturer in Saint-Tite, Que., where he made his own pair of shoes with help from staff. 

Known for its cowboy boots, the factory also supplies footwear for the RCMP and Canada's Armed Forces. Champagne walked away with black Oxford-style dress shoes.

“This has been made in Canada, by Canadians for Canadians and I think it sends a powerful message to the rest of the country and to the world that Canada is a nation of builders,” he said.

Tuesday’s budget will be the government’s first fiscal update in almost a year and the first time Prime Minister Mark Carney has signed off an economic plan for the country since forming government during the spring election. 

In the months since, Canadian industries — including steel, aluminum and the auto sector — have been rocked by the trade war with the United States and the economy has sputtered. 

The stakes are high. Not only is Carney under pressure to right the slumping fiscal picture but he will also face a confidence vote. 

It’s still unclear if the minority government Liberals have drummed up the votes needed to survive a vote and avoid a Christmas election. 

“I think there’s something positive in the budget for all the political parties,” Champagne said in French, when asked about the politically risky situation the party finds itself in. 

The budget is expected to include more money for defence after Canada promised to meet NATO’s target of two per cent of GDP spending by March 31, affordable housing and relief for workers affected by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs while reining in other spending that ballooned under the Trudeau government.

“People are looking for change. There won’t be any surprises” Champagne said.

“People will see something in there for them.” 

The Liberals are three seats votes shy of a majority, meaning they will need a few opposition MPs to either support or abstain when the budget vote comes — sometime in the coming weeks.