Federal government suggests some spending it claimed drove fall deficit overrun was already in spring budget
The concession comes in the wake of a Jan. 22 PBO report that found ‘a significant portion’ of that money ‘was included in the fiscal framework at the time of Budget 2024.’
Questions remain about how Liberals missed deficit target by over $20-billion, says PBO
Disregarding fiscal anchors has become ‘a unique feature’ of the current government, says Chrétien-era Finance Canada official Eugene Lang.
A spring election may push budget to fall 2025, says former PBO Page
The lengthy prorogation will also ‘complicate and put at risk’ the approval of supply funds—spending money, essentially—for the government, says ex-parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page.
Expanding AI in government operations, modernizing Service Canada sites among feds’ fiscal update’s public service-related measures
The Dec. 16 fall economic update offers no further details on planned savings tied to ‘natural attrition’ in the 2024 federal budget, but noted that effort ‘will begin showing results in 2025-26.’
Hundreds of billions in ‘contingent liabilities’ loom large over Canada
This year’s increase in the deficit is just the first of many payouts of Indigenous contingent liabilities from the backlog of claims accepted in principle but not yet paid.
Always leave them wanting more: Fraser tops All Politics Poll as he looks to exit federal politics
The results of The Hill Times’ 2024 year-end poll are in. Liberal MP Sean Fraser scores a hat trick and takes the ‘Most Valuable Politician’ title for the second year in a row, while Tory Leader Pierre Poilievre divides respondents.
Some departments ‘stopping the clock’ to prevent contract workers from becoming permanent public service staff
Treasury Board President Anita Anand says she’s currently reviewing spending plans from her cabinet colleagues. But NDP MP Rachel Blaney said it’s ‘really important’ to know who is issuing directives to ‘stop the clock.’
Two ways the federal government can save money
Stop the ever-expanding shadow civil service called the minister’s office staff, and please stop fighting in court against the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Trump doesn’t hold all the cards
So while we should take Trump seriously, we have to make sure that the Trump administration understands that Canada has cards, too.
House Finance Committee receives more than 800 briefs ahead of 2025 budget
As the House Finance Committee considers the 828 briefs on what should be included in the budget, its Senate counterpart is probing the practice of omnibus bills and what should be kept out of fiscal bills.
