Phoenix SPI was commissioned by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada to explore with Canadians issues relevant to the department’s mandate. The objectives of the 2010-2011 survey included the following: • Explore issues related to the recent recession and the economic recovery now under-way; • Gauge Canadians’ awareness, understanding and perceptions of issues related to the aging of our population, including the perceived impact of our aging population on Canadian society/economy; • Explore issues related to caregiving, including the challenges facing caregivers, the types of support needed, the amount of time devoted to caregiving, and perceptions of how well caregivers are coping with their responsibilities; • Explore issues related to indebtedness, including the nature and impact of household debt on Canadians; and • Assess government performance in areas relevant to the department’s mandate, tracking measures included in previous surveys. A mixed methodology was used that included a telephone survey and a set of focus groups. The survey averaged 17 minutes and was conducted with 1,505 Canadian residents, 18 years of age and older. Based on a sample of this size, the results can be considered to be accurate to within +/- 2.53%, 19 times out of 20. The fieldwork for the survey was conducted January 29 to February 18, 2011. A set of eight focus groups was conducted in four locations (two per city), using both in-person (Toronto, Montreal) and online focus groups (Halifax and Calgary). The groups were segmented by age: one group per location consisted of participants 18-35 years old, and the other group of participants aged 36-65. The qualitative research results provide an indication of participants’ views about the issues explored, but cannot be generalized to the full population of Canadian residents, 18 years and older.

Statistics on student debt, including the average debt at graduation, the percentage of graduates who owed large debt at graduation and the percentage of graduates with debt who had paid it off at the time of the interview, are presented by the province of study and the level of study. Estimates are available at five-year intervals.

With the global impact of the 2020 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), there has been a surge in public debt and uncertainty in the global economy. As the likelihood of a recession and a higher debt for Canada increases, the utility of a forecasting model is a realistic choice to both predict and determine optimal fiscal decisions for the government. This paper seeks to ratify existing historical trends in three developed economies (Canada, Japan, and the U.K.) as well as offer a time series forecast for the proceeding five years’ debt to GDP ratio. As per the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a limit of 60% in debt to GDP ratio was employed to measure how far off these three countries were from a considerably recoverable amount of debt. The time series forecast that the U.K. will drop to 65.436% by 2025, however, Japan and Canada will continue to accumulate debt to 254.3851% and 80.107% respectively.

Data may not add to the total due to rounding. End of fiscal year closest to December 31st. For 2007 only stocks for balance sheet statement are available, they represent the opening stocks for 2008, the start of the observed period. Balance sheet data can be displayed as flows or stocks. Flows are monetary expressions of economic actions that occur within the accounting period. Stocks refer to holdings of assets and liabilities at a specific time - the end of the accounting period. The net operating balance is a summary measure of the ongoing sustainability of the government operations. Net operating balance equals total revenues less total expenses. The net operating balance will become available with the release of consumption of fixed capital, an expense component. Includes taxes on immovable property, net wealth, estate, inheritance, gift and, financial and capital transactions. Includes the part of the profits of fiscal monopolies transferred to the government. Fiscal monopolies are government business enterprises that exercise the taxing power of government by the use of monopoly powers over the production or distribution of a particular kind of good or service. Typical commodities subject to fiscal monopolies are alcoholic beverages, lotteries and games of chance. Includes racetrack betting taxes, other amusement taxes, taxes on meals and hotels, taxes on insurance premiums, and taxes on specific services not elsewhere classified. Rent should not be confused with the rental of produced assets, which is treated as sales of goods and services. The difference in treatment arises because lessors of produced assets are engaged in a production process whereby they provide services (maintaining inventories, repairing and maintaining the leased assets). In the case of rent, general government units that own land or subsoil assets merely place these assets at the disposal of other units and are not considered to be engaged in productive activity. Includes other natural resource royalties, natural resource exploration fees and licenses, leases of land, rent and property income not elsewhere classified. Miscellaneous revenue includes auto insurance premiums, drug plan premiums and revenue not elsewhere classified. It may also include the consolidation statistical discrepancy. This discrepancy reflects differences between paired transactions (e.g. grant revenue and grant expense) and must be recorded in the statement of operation in order to preserve the operating balances (gross or net). While in theory, the paired transactions to be consolidated should be of the same value, in practice, they are not always aligned as a result of multiple cause (availability of economic and counterparty classification details, time of recording, different fiscal year end, deferrals, etc.). When paired transactions are eliminated, there must be no impact on the operating balance, therefore a consolidation statistical discrepancy is recorded in revenue or expense, depending on the situation. Improving the pairing of transactions to be consolidated is part of the integration work for the next year and will reduce the recorded consolidation statistical discrepancy. Canadian Government Finance Statistics (CGFS) estimates for compensation of employees and use of goods and services are adjusted to account for the capitalisation of research and development expenses using data from the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts (CSMA). This memorandum item provides the amounts capitalised for research and development to facilitate comparison with the Public Accounts. Within the Canadian Government Finance Statistics system (CGFS), the value of nonfinancial assets and related consumption of fixed capital is estimated using the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts (CSMA) perpetual inventory method (PIM). The results of the PIM model can differ substantially from the values found in the public accounting sources of a specific level of government. In order to better understand these differences, the value of nonfinancial assets and related consumption of fixed capital found in the public accounting sources are presented in the memorandum items consumption of fixed capital according to public sector accounts" and "Nonfinancial assets according to public sector accounts". For more information on the PIM model please consult additional information on the survey or statistical program in the CANSIM related information tab." Other miscellaneous current expenses include expenses of insurers and miscellaneous other current expenses not elsewhere classified. They may also include the consolidation statistical discrepancy. This discrepancy reflects differences between paired transactions (e.g. grant revenue and grant expense) and must be recorded in the statement of operation in order to preserve the operating balances (gross or net). While in theory, the paired transactions to be consolidated should be of the same value, in practice, they are not always aligned as a result of multiple cause (availability of economic and counterparty classification details, time of recording, different fiscal year end, deferrals, etc.). When paired transactions are eliminated, there must be no impact on the operating balance, therefore a consolidation statistical discrepancy is recorded in revenue or expense, depending on the situation. Memorandum items provide supplemental information or alternative presentation of related items, but the memorandum items amounts are not included in Canadian Government Finance Statistics (CGFS) structure and totals. The gross operating balance equals revenue minus expense other than consumption of fixed capital. Total expenditures equals expense plus the net acquisition of nonfinancial assets less consumption of fixed capital. The current CANSIM table does not include total expenditures as integration work is underway. The balance sheet records the stocks of assets, liabilities, and the net worth for each accounting period. Net worth is defined as the total assets less total liabilities and is an important measure for assessing the sustainability of fiscal activities. The balance sheet components include domestic and foreign counterparts. The net financial worth position equals total stock of financial assets minus liabilities. Includes the following assets: securities repurchase agreement (repo), financial derivatives, taxes receivable, interest receivable, other accounts receivable, deposits, prepaid expenses, other financial assets not elsewhere classified and related allowances. Includes the following liabilities: securities repurchase agreement (repo), financial derivatives, taxes payable, interest payable, other payable, deposits due, deferred revenue and contributions, discounts and premiums on outstanding debt, other liabilities not elsewhere classified and related allowances. In the Canadian Government Finance Statistics system (CGFS), liabilities are valued at current market prices, but this memorandum item provides the alternate nominal value. The nominal valuation only differs from the current market prices in the case of debt securities. The nominal value is the amount that the debtor owes to the creditor at any moment. It reflects the value of the instrument at creation and subsequent economic flows, such as transactions, valuation changes (excluding market price changes), and other changes, such as debt forgiveness. Conceptually, the nominal value is equal to the required future payments of principal and interest discounted at the existing contractual interest rate. Nominal value is not necessarily face value, which is the undiscounted amount of principal to be repaid. An extensive review of subsidies classification in the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts has determined that several entries in source data should be reclassified as subsidies on production, from subsidies on products. The reclassification is based on the interpretation of subsidies as per the 2008 System of National Accounts. Revisions impact reference year 2020 and beyond. As a result, users will notice visible changes in the estimates of subsidies on products and on production compared to previous years.

The data and programs replicate tables and figures from "Macroeconomic Effects of Discretionary Tax Changes in Canada: Evidence from a new narrative measure of tax shocks", by Hussain and Liu. Please the ReadMe file for additional details.

Farm debt outstanding by lender, for Canada and the provinces (in dollars). Data available on an annual basis.

Loan administration and cheque cashing services endured mixed results amid economic volatility during the pandemic and the continued effects of high interest rates on Canadian businesses and consumers alike. Canadian consumers' appetite for debt has boosted the industry by sustaining demand for consumer financing, mortgages and cash services for businesses. However, sharp economic volatility in 2020 forced consumers and businesses to shift their borrowing preferences away from traditional banking clients, causing revenue to spike in 2020. While a temporary economic recovery in 2021 caused consumers to revert back to traditional financial norms, the effects of high inflation and interest rates severely influenced how clients pursue their financial goals. Broader growth in core loan vehicles, such as auto loans and mortgages, in 2024 further cemented administrator demand. Nonetheless, continued competition from digital alternatives and external competitors curtailed larger rates of growth, with revenue rising an annualized 3.2% to an estimated $1.8 billion through the end of 2024, including an estimated 2.1% boost in 2024 alone. Profit followed a similar trend, as higher rates of loan demand and lowering of operational expenses facilitated greater profitability for administrators. Canadian GDP growth has largely been driven by trends in consumption. As interest rates spiked in 2023, Canadians have had to alter their spending habits and patterns. The continued upward push of Canadians living paycheck to paycheck further discouraged demand for traditional banks and provided a more diversified revenue stream among younger and underbanked consumers. This reliance on debt to make monthly payments also provides administrators with steady demand for their payday loan offerings. But in an environment where most payday loans made are to consumers with a higher probability of default, mounting household debt runs the risk of insolvency and industry contraction. Additionally, mounting external competition from digital payment platforms undermined administrator demand, with consumers having more opportunities via digital platforms to meet their digital needs. Moving forward, loan administration and cheque cashing services will continue to benefit from uncertainty surrounding interest rates and general economic shakiness among downstream customers. However, anticipated changes in regulations surrounding payday loans and interest rates will enhance compliance costs and curtail profitability. Lastly, increased external competition from commercial banks, credit unions and emerging financial technology companies via payment platforms like Zelle and Venmo will likely put downward pressure on niche services such as cheque cashing, money order issuance, travellers' cheque issuance and payday loans. Revenue is expected to fall an annualized 2.4% to an estimated $1.6 billion through the end of 2029.

Data may not add to the total due to rounding. End of fiscal year closest to December 31st. For 2007 only stocks for balance sheet statement are available, they represent the opening stocks for 2008, the start of the observed period. The Canadian general government includes two pension plans (social security funds): the Canada pension plan operating across Canada (except Quebec) and the Régie de rentes du Québec operating exclusively in Québec. Balance sheet data can be displayed as flows or stocks. Flows are monetary expressions of economic actions that occur within the accounting period. Stocks refer to holdings of assets and liabilities at a specific time - the end of the accounting period. The net operating balance is a summary measure of the ongoing sustainability of the government operations. Net operating balance equals total revenues less total expenses. Rent should not be confused with the rental of produced assets, which is treated as sales of goods and services. The difference in treatment arises because lessors of produced assets are engaged in a production process whereby they provide services (maintaining inventories, repairing and maintaining the leased assets). In the case of rent, general government units that own land or subsoil assets merely place these assets at the disposal of other units and are not considered to be engaged in productive activity. Miscellaneous revenue includes auto insurance premiums, drug plan premiums and revenue not elsewhere classified. It may also include the consolidation statistical discrepancy. This discrepancy reflects differences between paired transactions (e.g. grant revenue and grant expense) and must be recorded in the statement of operation in order to preserve the operating balances (gross or net). While in theory, the paired transactions to be consolidated should be of the same value, in practice, they are not always aligned as a result of multiple cause (availability of economic and counterparty classification details, time of recording, different fiscal year end, deferrals, etc.). When paired transactions are eliminated, there must be no impact on the operating balance, therefore a consolidation statistical discrepancy is recorded in revenue or expense, depending on the situation. Within the Canadian Government Finance Statistics system (CGFS), the value of nonfinancial assets and related consumption of fixed capital is estimated using the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts (CSMA) perpetual inventory method (PIM). The results of the PIM model can differ substantially from the values found in the public accounting sources of a specific level of government. In order to better understand these differences, the value of nonfinancial assets and related consumption of fixed capital found in the public accounting sources are presented in the memorandum items consumption of fixed capital according to public sector accounts" and "Nonfinancial assets according to public sector accounts". For more information on the PIM model please consult additional information on the survey or statistical program in the CANSIM related information tab. In the PIM model Memorandum items provide supplemental information or alternative presentation of related items, but the memorandum items amounts are not included in Canadian Government Finance Statistics (CGFS) structure and totals. The gross operating balance equals revenue minus expense other than consumption of fixed capital. Total expenditures equals expense plus the net acquisition of nonfinancial assets less consumption of fixed capital. The current CANSIM table does not include total expenditures as integration work is underway. The balance sheet records the stocks of assets, liabilities, and the net worth for each accounting period. Net worth is defined as the total assets less total liabilities and is an important measure for assessing the sustainability of fiscal activities. The balance sheet components include domestic and foreign counterparts. The net financial worth position equals total stock of financial assets minus liabilities. Includes the following assets: securities repurchase agreement (repo), financial derivatives, taxes receivable, interest receivable, other accounts receivable, deposits, prepaid expenses, other financial assets not elsewhere classified and related allowances. Includes the following liabilities: securities repurchase agreement (repo), financial derivatives, taxes payable, interest payable, other payable, deposits due, deferred revenue and contributions, discounts and premiums on outstanding debt, other liabilities not elsewhere classified and related allowances. In the Canadian Government Finance Statistics system (CGFS), liabilities are valued at current market prices, but this memorandum item provides the alternate nominal value. The nominal valuation only differs from the current market prices in the case of debt securities. The nominal value is the amount that the debtor owes to the creditor at any moment. It reflects the value of the instrument at creation and subsequent economic flows, such as transactions, valuation changes (excluding market price changes), and other changes, such as debt forgiveness. Conceptually, the nominal value is equal to the required future payments of principal and interest discounted at the existing contractual interest rate. Nominal value is not necessarily face value, which is the undiscounted amount of principal to be repaid.

This dataset includes the forecast of Quebec government revenues and expenses by component. It is usually published twice a year, either when the Quebec budget is tabled and when the Point on the economic and financial situation of Québec is tabled. This data is also published in the web application “_The budget in numbers_”. The budget data shown is a forecast. Revenues include own-source revenues, including revenues from government businesses and federal transfers. Expenditures include, on the one hand, portfolio expenses related to the provision of public services and, on the other hand, debt service. Positive numbers are income, and negative numbers are expenses or items that have a negative effect on the financial framework. As the numbers have been rounded up, the sum may not match the total shown.

This dataset includes the forecast of Quebec government revenues and expenses by component. It is usually published twice a year, either when the Quebec budget is tabled and when the Point on the economic and financial situation of Québec is tabled. This data is also published in the web application “The budget in numbers”. The budget data shown is a forecast. Revenues include own-source revenues, including revenues from government businesses and federal transfers. Expenditures include, on the one hand, portfolio expenses related to the provision of public services and, on the other hand, debt service. Positive numbers are income, and negative numbers are expenses or items that have a negative effect on the financial framework. As the numbers have been rounded up, the sum may not match the total shown.