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New shoes on budget day is an unusual tradition among Canadian Ministers of Finance. The tradition holds that the Minister of Finance should purchase or wear new shoes when the budget is delivered.
The exact origins of this tradition are not known. The observance of this tradition has been inconsistent among federal ministers; indeed, for two or three finance ministers, this tradition only holds if "new shoes" is interpreted to mean "new footwear". It also makes appearances among provincial finance ministers.
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[edit] Origins
The beginnings of new shoes on budget day are mysterious. It has been determined not to stem from any British practice or tradition. While several Canadian parliamentary traditions have their origins in Britain, new shoes on budget day does not. It has little do do with the practice of carrying a red dispatch box while delivering the budget.[1]
[edit] Followers
The first Minister of Finance to wear new shoes on budget day was Mitchell Sharp. The exact reason for his doing so is not known.[1]
Following Sharp, three Finance Ministers delivered their budgets without new shoes. The next one was Jean Chretien, who wore new shoes for both of his budgets.[1] The following Finance Minister, John Crosbie, did not wear new shoes for his only budget. However, he is the first Finance Minister to wear new footwear other than shoes, as he wore mukluks.[1]
Following Crosbie, Allan MacEachen did not wear new shoes, but his successor, Marc Lalonde, did for his second budget.[1]
Michael Wilson wore new shoes for the first four of the six budgets he presented. His successor, Donald Mazankowski, did not.[1]
Despite delivering eight budgets, Paul Martin never wore new shoes. However, if "new shoes" is interpreted to mean "new footwear", Paul Martin followed the tradition as by wearing work boots for the first budget he delivered.[1]
John Manley did not wear shoes for the one budget he tabled. The next Minister of Finance, Ralph Goodale, released two budgets and wore shoes both times.[1]
The current Minister of Finance, Jim Flaherty, as of 2007 has tabled two budgets. He wore new shoes for the first one.[1] For the second one, instead of wearing new shoes, he bought ice skates.[2]
[edit] Appearances by Provincial Ministers
Several of these appearances are variations and twists on the federal tradition.
[edit] British Columbia
For the two provincial budgets she has delivered, Carole Taylor, the current Minister of Finance for British Columbia, wore new shoes.[3]
In 2001, Colin Hansen wore new running shoes when he released his only budget.[4]
In 2001, Minister of Finance Paul Ramsay wore new shoes when he delivered his budget. His predecessor, Joy MacPhail, did the same with a second-hand set when she tabled her budget.[5]
[edit] Alberta
Once, when he was Alberta Finance Minister, Stockwell Day wore inline skates and a helmet when he tabled a budget.[5]
[edit] Ontario
For at least one of the budgets he released, Floyd Laughren wore new shoes.[6]
In 2007, Greg Sorbara wore new shoes when he released Ontario's provincial budget.[5]
[edit] Quebec
In 1989, Quebec Finance Minister Gerard Levesque presented the budget in new shoes.[7]
In 2003, Pauline Marois wore presented Quebec's budget in new shoes.[8]
In 2006, Michel Audet wore new shoes when he delivered his budget speech.[9]
[edit] New Brunswick
In 2002, New Brunswick finance minister Peter Mesheau wore new hiking boots when he delivered his budget.[6]
[edit] Prince Edward Island
In 2002, Pat Mella was speaking to journalists about PEI's budget when the Premier interrupted and presented her with a pair of sandals.[10]
[edit] Nunavut
In 1999, Finance Minister Kelvin Ng wore caribou-skin boots when he tabled Nunavut's budget in 1999.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i The Minister of Finance's New Shoes. Library of Parliament. Retrieved on March 24, 2007.
- ^ Tim Naumetz. "Skates bought by Flaherty were nothing like budget", Vancouver Sun, 2007-03-20, p. A5.
- ^ Miro Cernetig. "Victoria offers 10-per-cent tax cut", Vancouver Sun, 2007-02-21, pp. A1-A3.
- ^ Gordon Hamilton. "New spending, tax cuts for low earners", Vancouver Sun, 2005-15-02, p. A1.
- ^ a b c d "Why do finance ministers wear new shoes to deliver a budget?", Ottawa Citizen, 2007-03-25, p. A2.
- ^ a b ""Inappropriate" to buy new shoes for budget: finance minister", Wellend Tribune, 2002-06-13, p. A2.
- ^ "Sole man with budget", Montreal Gazette, 1989-05-16, p. A5.
- ^ Kevin Dougherty. "No goodies in budget, Marois warns: Something new, something blue;", Montreal Gazette, 2003-03-11, p. A11.
- ^ "Showing his shoes", Charlottetown Guardian, 2006-03-23, p. A11.
- ^ "New shoes for Pat Mella's budget blues", Charlottetown Guardian, 2003-03-27, p. A4.
