Description: The federal Department of Finance has reported the deficit for the first six months of this fiscal year is approximately $69 billion. Though this number is certainly high by normal standards, it is down from over $198 billion in the same six months a year ago. Big reductions in the Covid-19 relief payments such as emergency benefits and the wage subsidy help explain a big portion of the change.

Date:  November 26, 2021

Source:  thestar.com

 Link: https://www.thestar.com/business/2021/11/26/finance-says-federal-deficit-hits-nearly-69b-over-first-half-of-fiscal-year.html?source=newsletter&utm_content=a08&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=email&utm_email=760BE779956395955CFBBA5C497D22A3&utm_campaign=sbj_88560

Discussion points:

1) Has anyone in your class received assistance from the government’s various Covid relief programs?

2) Has anyone you know ever invested in Government of Canada bonds?

3) Exercise 10.11 on page 10-47 of Wiley’s Financial Accounting: Tools for Business Decision-Making talks about a series of Government of Canada bonds and the price the bonds were trading at. Do a bit of research to find out whether the most recent series of Government of Canada bonds are trading at a premium or a discount.