New shoes on budget day

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.

Origins

While several Canadian parliamentary traditions have their origins in Britain, new shoes on budget day does not. Among modern Ministers of Finance to wear new shoes on budget day, Donald M. Fleming in 1960 followed a practice that was already being described in the media as "traditional",^[1] while some say the tradition of wearing "something new" goes back to Sir John Rose and the first budget of 1868.^[2]

Mitchell Sharp wore new shoes on budget day in 1966.^[3] The exact reason for his doing so is not known,^[3] but the following year there were two budgets, one in June where he wore new shoes ^[4] and one in November. He wore the same pair of shoes in November, as budget day fell on St. Andrew's Day, and "being a Scot, and this being the second budget I have presented this year, I am wearing the same shoes that I wore when I presented the budget on June 1."^[5]

Followers

Following Sharp, Edgar Benson wore a new pair of shoes on budget day in 1968, although he said, "He didn't buy them just for the budget."^[6] The following year he did not wear new shoes when delivering the budget, saying jokingly that he couldn't afford them,^[7] and in 1970 he proudly displayed his worn soles on budget day.^[8]

The next two Finance Ministers, John Turner and Donald Macdonald, delivered their budgets without new shoes. The next one was Jean Chrétien, who wore new shoes for both of his budgets of 1978.^[3] The following Finance Minister, John Crosbie, did not wear new shoes in 1979 for his only budget. However, he is the first Finance Minister to wear new footwear other than shoes, as he wore mukluks.^[3]

Following Crosbie, Allan MacEachen did not wear new shoes, but his successor, Marc Lalonde, did for his second budget.^[3]

Michael Wilson wore new shoes for the first four of the six budgets he presented. His successor, Donald Mazankowski, did not.^[3]

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 by wearing work boots for the first budget he delivered.^[3]

John Manley did not wear new shoes for the one budget he tabled. The next Minister of Finance, Ralph Goodale, released two budgets and wore new shoes both times.^[3]

The current Minister of Finance, Jim Flaherty, has tabled six budgets. He wore new shoes for the first one.^[3] For the second one, instead of wearing new shoes, he bought ice skates for his son.^[9]

For his third budget, he resoled his shoes to show that his 2008 budget is fiscally prudent,^[10] but returned to the tradition in 2009 and 2010.

Appearances by Provincial Ministers

Several of these appearances are variations and twists on the federal tradition.

British Columbia

For the two provincial budgets she has delivered, Carole Taylor, the current Minister of Finance for British Columbia, wore new shoes.^[11] For her third budget, she wore new green-coloured shoes to go with the environmental focus of her budget.^[12]

In 2005, Colin Hansen wore new running shoes when he released his only budget.^[13]

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.^[14]

Alberta

Once, when he was Alberta Treasurer, Stockwell Day wore inline skates and a helmet when he tabled a budget.^[14]

Ontario

For at least one of the budgets he released, Floyd Laughren wore new shoes.^[15]

In 2007, Greg Sorbara wore new shoes when he released Ontario's provincial budget.^[14]

Quebec

In 1989, Quebec Finance Minister Gerard Levesque presented the budget in new shoes.^[16]

In 2003, Pauline Marois presented Quebec's budget in new shoes.^[17]

In 2006, Michel Audet wore new shoes when he delivered his budget speech.^[18]

New Brunswick

In 2002, New Brunswick finance minister Peter Mesheau wore new hiking boots when he delivered his budget.^[15]

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.^[19]

Nunavut

In 1999, Finance Minister Kelvin Ng wore caribou-skin boots when he tabled Nunavut's budget.^[14]

New shoes as a symbol

Wearing new shoes on budget day (or the refusal to do so) has been used as a symbol by politicians. Stockwell Day's outfit as Alberta Treasurer was intended to highlight "a new direction" for the budget.^[14]

References

1. ^ Maurice Jefferies (March 31, 1960). "Fleming to reveal all tonight". The Windsor Star, p. 19.
2. ^ "Tradition prevails for Sharp". (June 2, 1967). The Windsor Star, p. 15.
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/compilations/parliament/BudgetNewShoes.aspx
4. ^ "Tradition prevails for Sharp". (June 2, 1967). The Windsor Star, p. 15.
5. ^ "The budget: less a model of thrift". (December 6, 1967). The Montreal Gazette, p. 7.
6. ^ Robert Hull (October 23, 1968). "Name makes tax no sweeter". The Windsor Star, p. 16.
7. ^ "Busy day for Mr. Benson". (June 4, 1969). The Montreal Gazette, p. 16.
8. ^ "Setting an example?". (March 13, 1970). The Windsor Star, p. 13.
9. ^ Tim Naumetz (2007-03-20). "Skates bought by Flaherty were nothing like budget". Vancouver Sun. p. A5. 
10. ^ Flaherty's resoled shoes herald frugal budget
11. ^ Miro Cernetig (2007-02-21). "Victoria offers 10-per-cent tax cut". Vancouver Sun. pp. A1-A3. 
12. ^ Jonathan Fowlie. "Taylor's green shoes to toe budget's climate change line". Vancouver Sun. p. A3. 
13. ^ Gordon Hamilton (2005-02-15). "New spending, tax cuts for low earners". Vancouver Sun. p. A1. 
14. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Why do finance ministers wear new shoes to deliver a budget?". Ottawa Citizen. 2007-03-25. p. A2. 
15. ^ ^{a b} ""Inappropriate" to buy new shoes for budget: finance minister". Wellend Tribune. 2002-06-13. p. A2. 
16. ^ "Sole man with budget". Montreal Gazette. 1989-05-16. p. A5. 
17. ^ Kevin Dougherty (2003-03-11). "No goodies in budget, Marois warns: Something new, something blue;". Montreal Gazette. p. A11. 
18. ^ "Showing his shoes". Charlottetown Guardian. 2006-03-23. p. A11. 
19. ^ "New shoes for Pat Mella's budget blues". Charlottetown Guardian. 2003-03-27. p. A4.