The Canadian federal budget for fiscal year 1997–98 was presented by Minister of Finance Paul Martin in the House of Commons of Canada on 18 February 1997.
[4] The Working Income Supplement (WIS) is vastly enhanced by the budget: Some technical changes were made to corporate income taxes, mostly to increase revenues:[8] Marcel Massé, President of the Treasury Board, tabled the 1997-98 Main Estimates on 20 February 1997, outlining the government's spending plan for the year ending 31 March 1998.
He pointed out that the budget planned for $1.4 billion in cuts for the CHST and set aside funds for actions in areas of provincial jurisdiction (notably health and childcare).
[14] Lucien Bouchard, Premier of Quebec, expressed a similar opinion, saying that the budget was hypocritical, bordering on dishonesty.
[15] Ernie Eves, Ontario's Minister of Finance, expressed mixed feelings: he welcomed the deficit reduction effort of the federal government but regretted that Paul Martin chose not to cut income taxes or Employment insurance premiums.