Carney budget targets affordability and less U.S. reliance

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said Thursday's federal budget will focus on affordability and Canadian sovereignty, under the title Masters of Our Destiny. Speaking while buying new shoes for the speech, he listed rent, food and gas prices as top concerns and said Canada must open new markets and buy Canadian whatever happens south of the border. Sources told The Globe and Mail the plan will also address strategic independence, possibly including space policy. Already flagged measures include a $36-billion Productivity Mega Deduction, an extended federal gas-tax cut and the planned $25-billion Canada Strong Fund. Conservatives demand deeper cost-of-living relief measures.

100 wordsSource: The Globe and Mail, by Bill Curry, Mercedes Stephenson and Stephanie Levitz

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