Yesterday marked a sad, pathetic moment in Canadian history: the annual budget was passed by accident, because lawmakers in opposition to it "forgot" to stand up for debate, which meant it passed - by acclamation.
The 2006 budget lowers the goods and services sales tax to 6 percent from 7 percent starting July 1, and pays an annual grant to families of C$1,200 for every child under six....In other words, they saved billions in tax dollars for their citizens, woops. Billions. By accident.
The budget, unveiled May 2, also offers tax breaks for companies and increases funding for the provinces. The government is proposing C$29.3 billion in tax cuts and new spending over two years, narrowing its budget surplus to C$3.6 billion this fiscal year, from C$8 billion in the year ended March 31.
Of course, the Senate still has to approve it, but passing half of Parliament by acclamation gives it strong impetus to pass the Senate as well.
Despite its erstwhile detractors in the House of Commons screaming bloody murder after they didn't vote.
Maybe this will teach them to pay friggin attention when they're at work, but probably not.
