Most of the budget would be released well before its announcement, especially any major changes so as to get feedback from the populace and the market. Under Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and his Finance Minister Paul Martin, this changed considerably. The secrecy also had a large political component, as it would help undermine the response by the opposition. This secrecy was felt to be needed for inside information could enable individuals to profit from upcoming government decisions. Laurent, the Finance Minister famously would type the entire budget himself so that no secretary could read it. Traditionally, the budget process was immensely secretive with little consultation. A complete alternative budget is today produced each year by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, a non-partisan think-tank. The Reform Party revived this practice for a time, however. In recent years, opposition parties are more likely to pick only certain aspects to criticize. Historically the official opposition used to prepare a complete alternative budget and present this alternative to the Canadian people along with the main budget. In cases of minority government, the government has normally had to include major concessions to one of the smaller parties to ensure passage of the budget. Opposition parties almost always vote against the budget. The governing party strictly enforces party discipline, usually expelling from the party caucus any government Member of Parliament (MP) who votes against the budget. Budgets are a confidence measure, and if the House votes against it the government can fall, as happened to Prime Minister Joe Clark's government in 1980. The Budget is then voted on by the House of Commons. The budget is announced in the House of Commons by the Minister of Finance, who traditionally wears new shoes while doing so.
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