Achi news desk-
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes a number of headline-grabbing big spending promises.
But, hidden in the 416 page document are also a series of smaller items, such as promising to reform the law regarding infant formula and forcing banks to label government refunds, which you may have missed.
In particular, a scan of the “legislative measures” appendix – more than 60 largely non-financial measures that the Liberals plan to fill with the upcoming budget action bill, or BIA – shows that a host of changes to the grab bag law are coming.
Here are a handful of the odds and ends in the budget that could affect your day to day life.
Make exceptions for infant formula
One of the most notable incoming law reforms is the Food and Drugs Act, which allows the health minister to issue an order exempting persons or products from certain requirements under the law.
The example of how this amendment is intended to be used, according to the federal government, is in cases where health products such as infant formula have been exempted in order to increase the supply in the event of a shortage.
Relatedly, the budget also proposes to expand the authority to make regulations relating to drug and medical device shortages, to include foods for a special dietary purpose, such as human milk fortification and infant formula.
Stop youth marketing of nicotine
Intervening further on an issue on which the federal government has been tight-lipped in recent months, the Liberals will promote amendments to the Food and Drug Act to “prevent unintended and harmful use of therapeutic products,” by disrupting the youth marketing rules for the “addictive” therapies related to smoking cessation.
This comes after Ottawa indicated in March that new restrictions on how the products are marketed and sold would be coming “soon.”
It is expected that these changes will complement actions already taken in some states, where nicotine pouches must be sold in pharmacies, as well as restricting the sale of flavored pouches.
Facilitating ways to save for a child’s education
Amendments are also coming to the Canada Education Savings Act, implementing automatic enrollment in the Canada Learning Bond (CLB) for eligible children whose families do not open a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP).
Framed as making it easier for parents to save, the CLB is currently available to eligible children from low-income families born in 2004 or later and provides an initial payment of $500, plus $100 for each additional year of eligibility, up to age 15, for a maximum of $2,000.
In addition to the automatic registration, the government intends to extend the age to claim the CLB retrospectively, from 20 to 30 years.
Cracking down on car theft, devices
If you’ve gone to bed hoping your vehicle will still be where you parked it when you wake up, it’s worth noting that the federal government plans to use the budget bill which coming in to introduce a host of amendments to the Criminal Code to create new ones. car theft offences.
In particular: car theft involving the use of violence or links to organized crime; possess or distribute an electronic or digital device for the purpose of committing car theft; and laundering the proceeds of crime for the benefit of a criminal organization.
The government also wants to create a new “aggravating factor” that would be relevant in sentencing where there is evidence that the offender involved a young person in the commission of a crime.
Relatedly, amendments to the Radiocommunications Act are coming in to give the federal industry minister the power to “issue orders which may prohibit or restrict the sale, distribution and importation” of devices that can be used to intercept communications on for criminal activity, such as car theft.
Consumer mobile phone, banking changes
The budget bill is expected to include changes to the Canadian Telecommunications Act to prohibit service providers from charging consumers switching fees, and to allow consumers self-service options to cancel or modify plans with their current cable, internet and mobile phone providers. These providers will also have to notify customers of any contracts that are about to end.
Beyond the various financial promises in the budget that are meant to affect your wallet, there are reforms underway in terms of your banking experience in general.
The federal government is proposing to “establish a framework for consumer-driven banking” with the potential to see new tools created to “help Canadians better keep track of bills, track budget, collect and compare information,” and more.
Specifically to kick this off, the massive incoming package of budget-related law changes will include amendments to the Banks Act and the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Act.
Labeling gov’t payments to Canadians
Also on the banking front, apparently triggered by how some banks are hesitating to change the so-called Canadian Carbon Refund when it lands in your bank account, the federal government plans proceed with amendments to the Financial Administration Act.
These amendments, if passed, would give Ottawa the power to tell financial institutions how to label government payments deposited into your accounts. In particular, they could explain how certain refunds or refunds should be worded on account statements and online banking records.
Relatedly, the Liberals are looking to change the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act to give federal officials the authority to share information in cases where there may be non-compliance with the fuel charge.
While details remain scarce, this seems to suggest that should a province not comply with the pollution pricing system – as Saskatchewan has indicated it intends to do in relation to natural gas – it by the federal minister of national revenue the power to tell the public.
