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Few Canadians probably know about it, but there is a formal way in which citizens with ideas on how to run the country can make their views known to MPs and the broader public.
Every year for a few weeks around this time, Canadians can submit their ideas for next year's federal budget. These ideas will then be translated and posted for all to see on the Parliamentary website.
The annual process, which is led by the House of Commons finance committee, recently launched consultations on the 2014 budget. The committee is now taking submissions until August 5.
The 2014 budget will essentially be the Conservative government's last chance to make sure government spending is on track to post a surplus in 2015 – the year of the next federal election.
Many economists argue that being close to balance is good enough as long as the deficit is small and headed toward elimination. But balancing the books by 2015 is politically important for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who promised measures – such as income splitting for parents of children under 18 – that are contingent on a balanced budget.
The finance committee also holds hearings every fall where interest groups appear to make their case for what should be in the budget.
But what many Canadians probably don't know is that individual citizens can have their comments listed on an equal footing with these interest groups.
Simply by clicking on the "template" link on the committee's website, they can offer their two cents.
Here is the list of submissions made in 2012 for the 2013 budget.
Naomi Beingessner, a citizen from Regina who submitted comments last year, said she feels the process is not genuine consultation.
"I don't think they listen," said Ms. Beingessner, who works as executive director of the Regina Public Interest Research Group on the main campus of the University of Regina. "It's not like I heard anything from anybody about my comments."
Ms. Beingessner realizes that many of her proposals – such as increasing corporate taxes and rejecting policies aimed at boosting productivity – were not likely to fit with Conservative government policy. (Though she did call for more training for First Nations people to fill skills shortages, a topic that was addressed in the budget.)
"They need to know that (the current policy approach) isn't popular with everybody and maybe at some point it will cause a second thought to cross their minds," she said.
The committee notes that its hearings this fall will focus on six fairly broad topics: 1. fiscal sustainability and economic growth 2. Helping vulnerable Canadians, including Aboriginal Canadians, youth, persons with a disability and newcomers 3. Supporting research and innovation, including through tax incentives 4. Ensuring prosperous and secure rural and urban communities 5. Improving government efficiency, including through reducing red tape 6. maximizing employment opportunities for Canadians.
Conservative MP James Rajotte, who chairs the committee, said about 800 submissions were sent in last year. Because the forms are standardized and encourage brief submissions, he said he and other MPs on the committee are able to go through them.
"When you digest so many of them, you hear a lot of common themes and ideas and then that goes into the mix," he said. "The point of this process is to cast your net widely, but to get people to focus and say 'What are real priority areas for the next budget?' and to present it in a very concise way."
Liberal finance critic Scott Brison said previous governments – both Tory and Liberal – were more open to ideas from pre-budget consultations.
"Under their majority, the Conservatives try to make committees branch plants of ministers' offices and that's not the intention, and it wasn't the case under previous majority governments, including that of Brian Mulroney's," he said.
NDP finance critic Peggy Nash, who is also on the committee, said there are clearly frustrations with the government's lack of interest in opposition input. However she urged Canadians to keep writing.
"You don't have to represent an organization worth millions of dollars to have a good idea," she said. "Sometimes a good idea can take a period of time to percolate... And just because someone suggests a good idea and it's not immediately enacted into law doesn't mean that someone, somewhere didn't grab onto it. And it's my view it can make a difference."
Bill Curry