Budget 2018: Winners and losers

Finance Minister Bill Morneau has tabled his third budget. Here is a look at the highlights, new measures and key numbers:

Winners:

Women: Significant investments were made to promote pay equity, boosting female entrepreneurs, child care and women-centric organizations and an extensive strategy to address gender-based harassment and violence.

Indigenous communities: The government dedicated $4.1 billion over five years to Indigenous peoples, with an emphasis on infrastructure (housing and water, specifically), child welfare, health care and employment training. Foster care and family reunification were also prioritized.

Science and the environment: The government committed $3.2 billion over five years for science and research, including upgrading outdated laboratory facilities, harnessing the power of “Big Data,” and encouraging more female entrepreneurs. A new conservation fund was created.

Female refugees: The government increased its overseas humanitarian aid budget by $2 billion over five years; 1,000 refugee women and girls from conflict zones will be supported and brought in.

Library and Archives Canada: Ottawa announced its support for a new joint facility that will house the national library and Ottawa public library.

Collins Bay and Joyceville Prison Farms: Budget includes $4.3 million in funding over five years to reopen the Kingston prison farms, which were closed by the Harper government as a cost-saving measure.

Rural communities: The government has allocated $100 million over five years to provide improved, and affordable, access to Internet and wireless services that can be provided by low Earth orbit satellites.

No Fly List Kids: An investment of $81.4 million over five years will be used to develop a centralized screening model to end no-fly list ordeals for innocent Canadians.

Losers:

Smokers: A $1 increase in excise duty per carton of 200 cigarettes, with the tax set to increase annually.

Affordable housing advocates: Cities and tenant rights groups who wanted the government to increase investment in affordable and social housing were also left empty-handed.

Business owners: Those hoping for a stronger corporate tax regime to help Canada compete with the United States (where corporate tax rates have decreased) were disappointed, as were those advocating for stronger measures against tax havens.

Canadian economy: The budget does not have any specific funds to backstop Canadian industries, workers or government revenues in case North American free trade talks collapse.

National debt: With the new investments, the government will continue posting annual deficits, which will increase national debt (presently at $651 billion, according to Canadian Taxpayers Federation). The new outlook shows an $18.1 billion shortfall for 2018-19.