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CA-K070Economy & trade

Equalization addresses fiscal disparities among provinces

The Centre Block on Parliament Hill, Ottawa, photographed in 2016; a general image of the federal Parliament, not of the Equalization program.
The Centre Block on Parliament Hill, Ottawa, photographed in 2016; a general image of the federal Parliament, not of the Equalization program. Centre Block, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ontario (29442150493) · Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA · Photo source · Photo licence: CC BY-SA 2.0. Resized for display; item previews may be cropped. The image remains under the licence shown.
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Equalization is the Government of Canada’s transfer program for addressing fiscal disparities among provinces. It began in 1957, its payments are unconditional, and section 36(2) of the Constitution Act, 1982 commits Parliament and the Government of Canada to the principle of making equalization payments.

Scope & context

The program’s purpose and constitutional basis, not the current formula, payment amounts or which provinces receive payments in a given year.

Sources behind this record

1
Equalization Program ↗

Department of Finance Canada

What is Equalization?