Jobs, growth and long-term prosperity : Economic action plan 2013

Canada has outperformed all other G-7 economies in job creation and GDP growth over the recovery Chart 1.1 Improvement in Employment Improvement in Real GDP Over the Recovery Over the Recovery Note: Monthly data for Canada (July 2009 to Note: The trough in real GDP occurs in 2009Q1 for February 2013), the U. S. (February 2010 to Germany and Japan, and in 2009Q2 for Canada, France, February 2013), [...] Create opportunities for apprentices by working with provinces and territories to examine the use of practical tests as a method of assessment and harmonize requirements, and by introducing measures that will support the use of apprentices through federal construction and maintenance contracts, the Investment in Affordable Housing and infrastructure projects. [...] Increase the Endowment Incentive component of the Canada Cultural Investment Fund to a maximum benefit of $15 million over the life of the program. [...] Specifically, the Government will continue to restrain the growth of direct program spending without cutting transfers to persons, including those for seniors, children and the unemployed, or transfers to other levels of government in support of health care and social services. [...] As a result of these measures to ensure the sustainability of public finances, the deficit is projected to fall in each year of the forecast horizon, with the Government returning to a balanced budget in 2015–16 (Chart 1.2).