Morneau says his budget shoes symbolize his continued plan to help Canadians
Posted March 14, 2019 9:04 am.
Last Updated March 14, 2019 9:08 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO (NEWS 1130) – It’s a tradition that goes back decades, and as the many before him, Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau has unveiled his federal budget shoes — but they’re not actually new.
To a round of applause at the Kiwanis Boys & Girls Club in Toronto, Morneau slipped on a re-soled and repaired pair of black dress shoes.
“It shows sort of a continuation of our project to help Canadians,” he told reporters in Toronto.
Speaking at a Kiwanis boys and girls club in that city, Morneau says he had his shoes fixed up by a female cobbler who left her previous work to start her own business.
He says helping workers train for new jobs will be a key focus in his budget.
“How do we help Canadians to take time off, how do we ensure that they can continue to live their life while they’re taking time off, and how do they pay for their training,” he said. “How do we help her with some money that can help her while she takes time off? And then she needs to think maybe about paying for training.”
Helping people get into the housing market and laying the foundation for national pharmacare are also expected to be budget highlights.
Meantime, an improved economy is expected to give the government more fiscal wiggle room just months before the fall election.
After dropping hints about what can be expected in the budget, Morneau took the time to chat with the children in attendance.
One guessed that he was 80 years old, while another informed the minister the socks he received as a gift were made in China.
