Liberals’ legacy of legalized cannabis at risk as hopes for tax relief ‘slim to none’ before next election: industry
The inability to commit to a nationalized excise stamp in the fall economic statement is ‘baffling,’ says Cannabis Council of Canada president Paul McCarthy.
Lost federal revenue, property, money jumps to $649.5-million in 2023-24: Public Accounts
Last year saw a considerable jump in lost federal revenue, from $14.3-million in 2022-23 to roughly $252.9-million.
Feds spent a record $20.7-billion on outsourcing contracts last fiscal year
The federal government spent a record $20.7-billion on outsourcing contracts last fiscal year, despite calls to cut back on spending, criticism over its reliance on consultants, and flaws in contracting practices. A Hill Times analysis of the government’s public accounts for the 2023-24 fiscal year—which ended March 31, 2024—shows that the total spending on professional […]
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.
The feds found money fast for a GST holiday—why not for the years-promised Canada Disability Benefit?
If billions can suddenly be found for untargeted giveaways, why has the CDB been relegated to fiscal crumbs?
There’s even greater urgency in building a stronger economy
It’s time our existing government to act like a real one until the next election so that more can be done over the coming months to put urgently needed policies in place for long-term change.
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.’
Prime Minister’s Office confirms it cancelled year-end media interviews following fallout from Freeland’s bombshell mic drop
The PMO cancelled interviews with at least seven outlets: Global News, CBC, CTV, Radio-Canada, TVA Nouvelles, and a joint interview with CityNews and OMNI Television. Spark Advocacy’s Bruce Anderson says if ‘your plan is to challenge Canadians to follow your leadership in an impending economic/trade crisis, as a way of saving your leadership, you do not give up these communications platforms.’
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.
