For five years, COMPAS has been tracking business priorities for allocating surplus monies. A seismic shift seems to be occurring. There is now record support for debt paydown along with collapsing support for provincial transfers.

In the wake of GST cuts, there is likewise a seismic shift in tax cut preferences—a major jump in preference for across-the-board personal income tax cuts.

CEOs and business leaders on the COMPAS panel were also asked about any concerns they might have. No consensus emerged but semi-strong concerns were voiced that not enough commitment may be made to personal tax cuts, the environment, debt paydown, and infra-structure; not much concern was conveyed about health and defence.

These are the principal findings from the weekly business web-survey conducted by COMPAS for the Financial Post under sponsorship of BDO Dunwoody LLP.

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