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budget 2013

Was this year's budget terrific or terrible? We asked Globe and Mail readers to rate eight policies from the 2013 budget, ranging from the tariff deductions to infrastructure spending.

Have your say at tgam.ca/rate-budget

78 per cent of respondents thought the new federal markets regulator was "good" or "terrific," the most favourable policy on the list.

31 per cent thought the decision to eliminate the Canadian International Development Agency was a "terrible" idea, making it the unliked policy.

40 per cent viewed the new whistleblower reward negatively. The reward pays whistleblowers 15 per cent of reclaimed unpaid taxes if they help catch a tax evader.

68 per cent of all respondents thought the policies were "good" or "terrific" overall, while 32 per cent thought they were "bad" or "terrible."

On cutting the Canadian International Development Agency:

"Trying to put humanitarian aid in the hands of the same group looking out for business interests is monstrous."

-- Jim Johnstone

On infrastructure spending:

"Not sure why the federal government overtaxes, then forks out funds back to provinces and municipalities. Shouldn't they just reduce federal taxes and expect the lower levels to raise their own infrastructure funding?"

-- Patrice Boivin

On a new federal regulator:

"This is very important. It is unfortunate that provincial efforts to date have not obtained this result. Canada's international credibility will be greatly improved while the cost of administering and policing our capital markets will reduce."

-- Bill Cowan

(The poll was based on more than 2,000 votes, with each policy registering an average of 251 respondents.)

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