The papers in this volume examine the political and economic context informing the 2009 budget and provide a quantitative evaluation of the impact of the overall budget package on the Canadian economy. Special attention is devoted to topics such as the economic stimulus and stabilization provisions in the budget, specific tax policy changes, financial market provisions, fiscal sustainability of the budget deficits, cost-sharing and federal-provincial fiscal relations, federal equalization transfers since the O'Brien Report, Canada's declining social safety net and EI reform, social policy and anti-poverty provisions, alternative approaches to environmental protection and green initiatives, and emerging fiscal challenges. For a complete list of contributors please visit www.mqup.ca