Thursday, March 12, 2026
ADVT 
National

Details of federal spending review to be released in 'coming days'

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 12 Mar, 2026 10:20 AM
  • Details of federal spending review to be released in 'coming days'

Canadians are expected to learn soon which programs will be affected by the federal government's cost-cutting review.

Appearing before the House committee on government operations Tuesday, Secretary of the Treasury Board of Canada Bill Matthews said departmental plans for programs affected by cuts should be tabled "in the coming days."

The government's Comprehensive Expenditure Review was launched in July 2025, and most ministers have been asked to find ways to cut their departments' program spending by 15 per cent over three years.

Matthews said federal organizations were told to find "operational efficiencies" and to target programs and activities that are underperforming, overlap with other programs or are not aligned with government priorities.

Appearing before the same committee today, Public Service Alliance of Canada national president Sharon DeSousa said the government needs to be honest about which programs and services will be affected.

She said cutting public services can cost taxpayers more in the long term and can lead to slower service delivery, reduced administrative capacity and stalled progress on departmental and legal obligations.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

MORE National ARTICLES

Canada not a target for Trump administration's new tariff investigations

Canada not a target for Trump administration's new tariff investigations
The Trump administration launched trade investigations of multiple countries Wednesday in an attempt to solidify the president's tariff policies after the Supreme Court struck down his previous efforts to realign global trade.

Canada not a target for Trump administration's new tariff investigations

Darpan 10 with Brenda Bailey, Minister of Finance, British Columbia

Darpan 10 with Brenda Bailey, Minister of Finance, British Columbia
Global uncertainty is slowing growth everywhere. High costs, global instability, and volatile commodity prices are putting pressure on public finances. To protect public services people rely on, we are increasing the rate of the first income tax bracket by less than 0.6 percentage points —5.06% to 5.60%.

Darpan 10 with Brenda Bailey, Minister of Finance, British Columbia

B.C. killings due to 'botched robbery,' defence lawyer says, as murder trial closes

B.C. killings due to 'botched robbery,' defence lawyer says, as murder trial closes
A weeks-long trial of three men accused of murdering an Abbotsford, B.C., couple came to a close in B.C. Supreme Court on Tuesday, with defence lawyers painting a picture of a robbery gone wrong leading to the killings, rather than a premeditated case of first-degree murder. 

B.C. killings due to 'botched robbery,' defence lawyer says, as murder trial closes

Conservatives seek to remove barriers to alcohol shipments across provincial borders

Conservatives seek to remove barriers to alcohol shipments across provincial borders
The federal Conservatives are pushing to allow Canada Post to ship alcohol between provinces, saying the Liberals have failed to live up to their pledge to remove interprovincial trade barriers.

Conservatives seek to remove barriers to alcohol shipments across provincial borders

Vancouver moves closer to no-snow winter despite chilly blast

Vancouver moves closer to no-snow winter despite chilly blast
Vancouver has moved closer to an official snowless winter after a chilly blast failed to result in the benchmark one centimetre of accumulation at the city's airport.

Vancouver moves closer to no-snow winter despite chilly blast

Gun control groups 'disappointed" by lack of information on Tumbler Ridge firearms

Gun control groups 'disappointed
Five gun control advocacy groups have told the RCMP they're "alarmed and disappointed" the force has not yet disclosed basic information about the models and legal status of the firearms used in the Tumbler Ridge, B.C., mass shooting.

Gun control groups 'disappointed" by lack of information on Tumbler Ridge firearms

PrevNext