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Finance committee report expected to ‘telegraph’ 2012 federal budget

The Tories are expected to release a report today that analysts say will give us some insight as to what to expect in the Harper government's 2012 federal budget.

The Commons finance committee's pre-budget consultation report, to be presented to the House on Wednesday afternoon, is the result of 410 submissions from Canadians across the country, the Globe and Mail reports.

"For years, this document was merely a hodge-podge of opposition wishes," the Globe's Steven Chase wrote.

"Now, because Conservatives (have a majority government), they will ultimately telegraph the themes of the next fiscal plan."

So what can we expect to see in this report?

In a press release announcing the budget consultations, finance minister Jim Flaherty said the 2012 budget will "stay squarely focused on economic growth, protecting jobs, reducing the deficit, and returning to balanced budgets in the medium term."

"Although Canada is not immune to the economic uncertainties still facing the global economy, Canadians gave our Conservative Government a strong mandate to stay focused on what matters most — job creation and economic growth," the statement noted.

Treasury Board President Tony Clement echoed Flaherty's comments when he told The Hill Times last week job creation, economic growth, and low taxes would continue to be his focus.

Clement is leading the search for five to 10 per cent cuts to departments' operating budgets for a total $11-billion in savings by 2015-2016.

The Hill Times also spoke to former Chretien cabinet minister John Manley who said cuts to the military budget might be one way for the Harper government to meet their deficit targets.

"I'd suspect the minister of Finance is hoping to get some fiscal savings out of the Canadian Forces," Manley observed, citing the end of combat operations as an opportunity to define the future role of the Canadian Armed Forces.

"You can't really do that when your men and women are in a combat role overseas. Your first priority is their success and their safety."