Canadian politics: Freeland picks 2024 federal budget shoes

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland picked out a new pair of made-in-Canada shoes on Monday ahead of the federal government's 2024 budget review.

This year, Freeland chose black leather heels from a Montreal-based shoe brand: Maguire Shoes, an independent, direct-to-consumer business owned by sisters Miriam and Romy Maguire.

According to the brand's website, its main goal is to “work to make high-quality luxury footwear fair and affordable.”

Picking a brand owned by a pair of entrepreneurs from Canada's millennial crowd is perhaps another way the government is emphasizing the budget's goal of helping ease the pressure on the younger generation.

The Canadian Political Tradition

Buying a new pair of shoes before the annual budget has become a political tradition for Canada's finance ministers, and shoe choices are often seen as an indication of what's to come in the budget.

For example, in 2015, then finance minister Joe Oliver chose New Balance running shoes before setting a balanced budget.

This is not the only choice that has been made over the years. In 1994, then finance minister Paul Martin was given a pair of work boots by Jean Chrétien, and Jim Flaherty decided to wear them again ahead of the 2008 and 2011 federal budgets.

The budget comes amid affordability challenges

The Liberals plan to introduce a number of measures in Tuesday's budget to help ease Canada's housing crisis. However, the new spending comes amid concerns about the federal deficit and the possibility of tax hikes – something Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has ruled out for the middle class.

Still, the finance minister says Canada is at a “crucial juncture” for spending, as the affordability crisis puts price pressure on the population and the housing shortage pushes young Canadians out of the housing market.

“There is an urgent need for investment in Canada today, and Canadians… It's something we need to do something about. It needs investment. We're making it,” Freeland said on April 9.

With CTV News' Rachel Aiello and Canadian Press files