And that was the budget. It was full of interesting things, but you wouldn’t know it based on the fact that absolutely everybody was fixated on the deficit figure, and barely even that it was built on a super cautious, pessimistic framework that basically presented a worst-case scenario in terms of assumptions, meaning that the only place it really could go was up, and yes, if the economy grows enough, then the budget will start to balance itself. The child benefit changes are the big news, and as for reaction, the Conservatives call the budget a “nightmare” while the NDP rail about all of the promises that it didn’t keep (because everything should have happened immediately).

For more detailed break-downs, Maclean’s has an emoji-filled annotated version of Bill Morneau’s speech, fact-checks its contents, and shows 25 ways in which the budget will affect the average Canadian. There is money for counter-radicalisation, but not any more for intelligence agencies. Regions hit by the drop in commodity prices get more EI money, the gong show that is Shared Services Canada gets more money to do the job its supposed to do, another $1 billion for Syrian refugee assistance, $8.4 billion over five years for First Nations communities, and more money for affordable housing and childcare. Major military purchases are being pushed back yet again (but they also need more time to figure out their defence priorities and to fix the procurement system), but they are keeping most of their green commitments, as well as to arts and culture and the CBC. Infrastructure spending is slower off the start, and they decided against changing taxes for stock options after consulting with start-up companies that rely on them. This budget doesn’t restore life-long pensions for injured veterans, which could see an uproar.

Jason Kirby calls it the return of big government, while Paul Wells noted the many half-measures therein and sees a road paved to an increase in the GST. Similarly, Susan Delacourt notes the long outlook of the budget, so much so that it should contain the words “to be continued.” Andrew Coyne sees a 1970s budget, that would target the problems of the 1980s, and not the current situation. Stephen Gordon compares the budget to its counterfactual of Stephen Harper’s agenda. Mike Moffatt evaluates what the budget got right (and wrong), and what it augurs for Budget 2017. David Reevely sees a lot of parallels to how the Ontario Liberals have been doing their own budgeting.

https://twitter.com/kevinmilligan/status/712469311512649728

Good reads:

• Justice Thomas Cromwell announced that he will retire from the Supreme Court in September. His direct and provocative questions will be missed.
• Matt Gurney lauds Trudeau’s high bar of principle on not settling with the NDP on their satellite offices, but notes that same high bar may trip him up one day.
• The National Post has an excellent look at Rob Ford’s life.

Odds and ends:

Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin got the key to the city in Ottawa last night.