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

Citizen-led recall bid against Alberta premier fails to get required signatures

Citizen-led recall bid against Alberta premier fails to get required signatures
Smith is the second premier in Alberta's history to face a recall petition, with the other happening nearly 90 years ago.

Citizen-led recall bid against Alberta premier fails to get required signatures

Snow expected across southwestern B.C. from Lower Mainland to Vancouver Island

Snow expected across southwestern B.C. from Lower Mainland to Vancouver Island
Environment Canada has expanded a special weather statement for low-elevation snowfall from Metro Vancouver into other parts of southwestern British Columbia, including Vancouver Island.

Snow expected across southwestern B.C. from Lower Mainland to Vancouver Island

Indigenous chiefs go to Alberta legislature, pressure province to nip separatism push

Indigenous chiefs go to Alberta legislature, pressure province to nip separatism push
More than a dozen First Nations chiefs and even more band councillors and elders were at Alberta's legislature Monday, calling on Premier Danielle Smith's government to stomp out the push for the province to quit Canada.

Indigenous chiefs go to Alberta legislature, pressure province to nip separatism push

Police search for two suspects after U.S. consulate in Toronto hit by gunfire

Police search for two suspects after U.S. consulate in Toronto hit by gunfire
Shots fired at the United States consulate in Toronto were denounced by Ontario's premier as unacceptable acts of intimidation as police searched for two suspects in the early-morning shooting on Tuesday. 

Police search for two suspects after U.S. consulate in Toronto hit by gunfire

More than 5,000 Canadians have fled Middle East, Anand says demand for help dropping

More than 5,000 Canadians have fled Middle East, Anand says demand for help dropping
Global Affairs Canada says it has helped more than 5,000 Canadians leave the Middle East since the latest conflict began, and demand for evacuation support is now falling off.

More than 5,000 Canadians have fled Middle East, Anand says demand for help dropping

U.S. museum returns remains of 12 Canadian soldiers

U.S. museum returns remains of 12 Canadian soldiers
An American medical museum has returned the partial human remains of 12 Canadian soldiers from the First World War.

U.S. museum returns remains of 12 Canadian soldiers