Canada’s Department of Finance concluded its pre-budget consultations, gathering input from workers, businesses, indigenous communities, and other stakeholders on affordability, housing, trade, business competitiveness, and economic resilience ahead of Budget 2026.
Canada’s Department of Finance announced on 9 September 2026 that it has concluded its pre-budget consultation process, drawing on input from workers, businesses, indigenous leaders, and individual citizens across the country. The consultations aim to shape fiscal and economic policy in response to ongoing affordability challenges and recent US tariff actions.
Scope of consultation efforts
Over the course of the summer, federal finance officials conducted an extensive listening tour. Minister François-Philippe Champagne, Secretary of State Wayne Long, Parliamentary Secretary Ryan Turnbull, and Parliamentary Secretary Sophie Chatel visited 23 Canadian cities, facilitating 44 roundtable discussions and 56 bilateral meetings with stakeholders from labour, business, academia, non-profit sectors, and Indigenous communities.
The consultation generated substantial public response: more than 18,000 Canadians completed an online survey, while nearly 2,000 submitted formal written briefs outlining Budget 2026 priorities.
Themes and economic concerns
Feedback consistently emphasised the need to reduce costs for everyday Canadians, simplify business regulations, and protect employment. Participants flagged concerns about tariff impacts on domestic business and supply chain disruptions.
Housing affordability, trade relationship diversification, and measures to strengthen Canada’s competitive standing in global markets emerged as priority areas. Stakeholders also stressed the importance of reinforcing economic sovereignty and reducing reliance on external economic dependencies.
The government stated it will use these submissions to inform Budget 2026’s approach to tax policy, business investment conditions, and broader economic resilience.
Earlier, Canada’s Department of Finance launched pre-budget consultations on 6 July 2026, inviting Canadians to provide input on the government’s spending and policy priorities ahead of the federal budget expected this autumn.
