Who's Really Asking for Your Tax Dollars?

Canada just announced a major budget overhaul—making this analysis more critical than ever.

On October 6, 2025, the government revealed they're fundamentally changing how budgets work: shifting to fall timing (Budget 2025 drops November 4th), creating a new "Capital Budgeting Framework," and distinguishing between day-to-day spending and capital investment. But who influenced these changes? What voices shaped this new direction?

I reviewed 614 pre-budget recommendations that helped set the stage for this transformation: Nonprofits, Industry Associations, Business Coalitions, Municipalities, Unions and more. I took their recommendations verbatim as they appeared in their submission and separated the types of requests (direct funding, policy consideration, tax amendment etc) and pulled out any quantified costs.

This database captures the final wave of input under the old system—revealing the competing interests and conflicting demands that will now be filtered through Ottawa's new budgeting lens.

Your toolkit for understanding the budget revolution

This database becomes even more valuable as Canada reshapes its fiscal approach:

Historical Record: These submissions represent the last major consultation under the previous system—a snapshot of what different sectors prioritized before the shift.

Framework Analysis: See which requests align with the new "capital investment" focus versus "day-to-day operations"—and who benefits from this distinction.

Influence Tracking: Identify which organizations' requests match the government's new priorities around productivity, competitiveness, and capital formation.

Accountability Tool: Compare what organizations asked for privately with what gets implemented in the new framework.

Democratic Insight: As pre-budget consultations move to summer timing, understand how different voices competed for influence in this transitional moment.

The stakes just got higher:
Who wins under the new system?

  • Environmental Defence Canada: "Eliminate all subsidies, public financing, and other fiscal supports provided to the oil and gas sector"

    vs.

    Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers: Requests reinstating Atlantic Investment Tax Credit and "capital-focused" depreciation policies


    [Note: Corporate tax incentives for capital formation are explicitly prioritized in the new framework]

  • ACORN Canada, Broadbent Institute, CUPE: Implement wealth taxes and excess profits taxes

    vs.

    Canadian Federation of Independent Business: Reduce small business tax rates and increase capital gains exemptions

    [Note: The new framework doesn't address wealth redistribution—will these voices be marginalized?]

  • Canadian Union of Public Employees: Restore corporate tax rate to 21%

    vs.

    Multiple Industry Groups: Various requests for "capital investment incentives" and business tax reductions


    [Note: The capital budgeting lens could favour business requests over revenue generation]

  • Housing Advocates: Close REIT tax loopholes

    vs.

    Canadian Home Builders: Exempt developers from housing taxes

    [Note: "Measures to grow housing stock" are now a capital investment priority—whose approach wins?]

The new Capital Budgeting Framework is not neutral—it will reshape which voices get heard and which solutions get funded. This database shows you who was positioning for influence before the rules changed.

Pre-budget submission not included that you want to see? Send me a message

Note: This is a grassroots human-built resource. While much effort has been made to ensure information is accurate, mistakes can happen. See a mistake? Send me a message