OTTAWA — Canada’s new parliamentary budget officer says the government’s spring economic update lacks details on spending targets and results.
Annette Ryan, who appeared before the House of Commons government operations committee today, says the update provided some metrics on progress but few mentions of risks and specific objectives.
She says it instead introduced a range of new and undefined priorities, strategies and general objectives that would benefit from greater accountability and details.
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne on Tuesday tabled a mid-year fiscal update that includes $54.5 billion in new costs and spending since Budget 2025.
The Liberals now estimate last year’s federal deficit came in at $66.9 billion, $11 billion less than the $78.3 billion forecast in the 2025 budget, thanks largely to improved economic performance and some lapses in planned spending.
Ryan says her office will publish a series of documents early next week on the spring update.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2026.
Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press
